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Leave your childhood behind: a GI Joe comic all grown up
I’ve been holding onto this title for a while and after this last issue, I have to let it out. I was a huge GI Joe fan when I was growing up. So much so that in middle school I wrote an exposition essay about my childhood obsession and got a perfect 5/5. The huge battlegrounds my brother and I used to setup with the small, plastic figures all over our backyard were extensive and amazing. Zip lines, sand pits, water hazards, and epic battles. I was a storm shadow kid myself. I loved the ninjas, but something about the ninja in white just did it for me.
Cobra
When I jumped back into collecting comics I immediately set my sights on the GI Joe titles. IDW was releasing them title after title and when the movie came out, there was a boom in new interest. There are many titles including GI Joe, GI Joe: Origins, and the one you should be reading, GI Joe: Cobra.
This title, Cobra, is written by Mike Costa and Christos Gage with art by Antonio Fusio. It follows a double agent for the Joe’s who has recently infiltrated Cobra. I called it a grown up GI Joe because this book is sort of an all hands off approach to what is otherwise a pretty long standing world. I recently saw an interview with Costa who said IDW and Hasbro were all for him taking this story in any direction he saw fit. Costa had been writing on the Transformers story (also recommended) and was asked to take the lead on this new Joe title. He admitted to not being much of a fan and decided to basically say “no one is safe,” and man, NO ONE is safe in this story line. There are so many shocker moments, so many deaths from central figures, you just feel like you are watching an agent lose his grip on reality. The most recent issue, all spoilers aside, is jaw dropping. The action is fast, the pacing is perfect, the art a great match. Heavy inks, jagged lines. I can’t recommend this story enough.
For those that haven’t seen Max Landis’ “The Death and Return of Superman”, you’re missing out on pure internet gold. The short film takes a whimsical, and drunken, look at one of the most important events in comic book history, The Death and Return of Superman (see above..doi).
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was our idea. Yep, that’s right, we thought of it way back in July of 2012. You want evidence? Fine! Check out episode 69 of Rated NA right around the 34 minute mark. Okay, we realize we’re probably not the only group of geeks on the planet that fantasized about a S.H.I.E.L.D. television series before it was announced last year, but we like to feel special on occasion. | {
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Museums / Visitor Centers
The connection of people to spaces is nowhere more evident that in visitor centers, theaters, museums and classrooms. Some of our firm’s favorite design types are buildings that make this connection with the public. In addition to ready access and pleasing aesthetics, these spaces need to be accoustically excellent and technologically advanced. | {
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As you probably now, your application’s images that are in the drawable directory must be named in lowercase.
Unfortunately this is not true for the iPhone applications. A big portion of my job is to develop Android apps using resources from existing iPhone apps. In order to be quick and efficient, I wrote this bash script that renames all your files in your current directory to lowercase, creates a new folder named 2x (which contains the large images) and removes the @2x extension. | {
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Downloads storage
On iPhone, Spotify saves downloaded music in an encrypted form on your device’s storage. If you need more room for a new download, iOS automatically frees up space by deleting any unused stored data. If no more stored data can be deleted, you need to free up space by manually removing downloaded tracks. | {
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2009-14 Ford F150 4" Oval Wheel to Wheel Bars, black
Product No: BOVL543FD ICI
Availability: In stock
$379.95
FREE SHIPPING to Cont. U.S.
Qty:
Quick Overview
Innovative Creations (ICI) nerf bars will add both style and functionality giving you much easier access in and out of your Ford F150. Unlike some other brands, ICI uses one piece of seamless tube for a flawless look. The heavy duty carbon steel wheel to wheel nerf bars have a black coating to prevent premature corrosion or rust. ICI is committed to using the finest materials available to ensure you receive a quality product that will last. | {
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What's up in emerging technology
What's up in emerging technology
September 14, 2017
Nope, We Can’t Trust Data Firms to Update Against Known Security Flaws
It seems Equifax was hacked using a two-month-old vulnerability that it could have protected itself against.
"We know that criminals exploited a U.S. website application vulnerability,” the company wrote in a statement. “The vulnerability was Apache Struts CVE-2017-5638.” But as Ars Technica points out, that flaw was identified and fixed on March 6, with a patch (albeit a complex and finicky one to implement) offered to users of the Web app software so that they didn’t get hacked. Equifax was hacked in mid-May, a full two months after the vulnerability was announced. In other words, it looks like Equifax fell foul of a known exploit that it hadn't yet updated its systems against.
That would be careless if it was a security flaw on, say, your own home computer. But when failure to update software with a vulnerability like that—which, as Ars Technica has also reported, was used heavily by hackers in March—can result in the loss of personal data from as many as 143 million Americans, it’s negligent. And when a company claims, like Equifax, to be in the business of fraud prevention, identity management, and selling advice on how to manage data breaches? Well, I guess then we just find ourselves in the modern-day couldn’t-care-less corporate approach to cybersecurity. | {
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Media Contact
Parliament Diary
Winter Session Wrap 2016
Winter Session 2016 has been one of the least productive sessions for both Houses in the last 15 years, with repeated disruptions on the issue of demonetisation of currency. While eight Bills were introduced in this session, only two were passed. Legislative business this session has been the lowest so far in the current Parliament (16th Lok Sabha).
Both Houses of Parliament saw repeated disruptions on the issue of demonetisation. While Lok Sabha lost 107 hours of scheduled time to disruptions, Rajya Sabha lost 101 hours.
As a result of repeated disruptions, only two of the 330 listed questions in Rajya Sabha could be answered orally. This has been one of the least productive Question Hour sessions for Rajya Sabha in the last three Parliaments. Previously, one of the 480 questions and none of the 420 questions were answered orally in the Winter Sessions of 2010 and 2013, respectively.
90% of planned legislative business could not be transacted; LS passed Taxation Bill without discussion.
At the beginning of the session, 19 Bills were listed for consideration and passage; none of these were passed. Out of the nine Bills listed for introduction, three were introduced. Only two Bills were passed during this Session.
This session, MPs of the opposition in Lok Sabha had requested for an Adjournment Motion to discuss the issue of demonetization of currency. However, the request was not allowed by the Speaker. | {
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Iraqi Scientist Meets U.N. Inspectors
Published 7:00 pm, Friday, January 24, 2003
International arms inspectors met with an unidentified Iraqi on Saturday in their effort to recruit well-placed scientists for private U.N. interviews on Iraqi weapons programs. Neither U.N. nor Iraqi spokesmen reported any progress.
At the request of U.N. inspectors, Baghdad government officials had urged three scientists to submit to such questioning. But knowledgeable sources said at least two of them had refused to speak without Iraqi government officials monitoring the questions and answers.
A U.N. inspections team leader met he unidentified Iraqi man, accompanied by an Iraqi official, at about 10:40 a.m. at the front door of a Baghdad hotel and led him inside. The man departed about noon in a government car, seen off by the same inspector. He refused to speak with waiting reporters.
The subject of private interviews has become a major issue in advance of a U.N. chief inspectors' report Monday on how well Iraq has cooperated during the first two months of renewed arms inspections.
Earlier Saturday, in unrelated and unexplained incidents, two men _ one carrying knives, the other shouting "Save me!" and carrying a notebook _ tried to enter the U.N. inspectors' compound on Baghdad's outskirts, a U.N. spokesman reported.
The first man was apprehended as he tried to get through a front gate and was taken away by Iraqi police. Journalist witnesses said the second was led inside the compound, and U.N. spokesman Hiro Ueki said he was handed over to Iraqi authorities at a government office next door.
Two days before its "report card" on arms inspections, one U.N. agency said Baghdad would get a "quite satisfactory" grade on its responses to inspectors' questions and requests for information. In Washington, the White House, easing off the tougher rhetoric of recent days, said Friday it might give inspectors more time to look for weapons, depending on the content of Monday's report.
Late Friday, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said new requests had been received from U.N. officials for interviews Saturday with three Iraqi scientists, who were not publicly identified. The Iraqi liaison agency working with the inspectors said it had "encouraged" the three to grant private interviews.
In its harsh criticism of Iraq, the Bush administration has focused most sharply on the issue of private interviews of scientists.
The Security Council resolution governing the inspections declares that "Iraq shall provide … private access" to anyone the inspectors wish to interview.
The inspectors believe that Iraqis knowledgeable about possible weapons programs would be less candid when questioned with government monitors present. In all formal interview requests thus far, however, the Iraqi specialists have asked to have government representatives present.
The Baghdad government says it cannot force its scientists into private interviews, but it reached agreement with the chief inspectors last Monday to "encourage" interview subjects to submit to unmonitored questioning.
The White House on Friday rejected the Iraqi approach. "President Bush believes that Iraq's refusal to allow Iraqi scientists to submit to private interviews with U.N. inspectors is unacceptable," spokesman Ari Fleischer said.
Meanwhile, international opposition to the U.S. threats of war against Iraq appeared to solidify.
France, Germany and Russia all urge that the inspectors be given more time to do their job of assessing whether Iraq has weapons of mass destruction or programs to build them. After conferring Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the German chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, reported "growing support" in Europe for Germany's opposition to military action.
Secretary of State Colin Powell warned Saturday that the international community it cannot shrink from its responsibility to disarm Iraq by force if necessary just because "the going is getting tough."
"The burden is upon Iraq," Powell said on his arrival in Davos, Switzerland, where 2,300 world political and business leaders have gathered for an annual meeting. "Iraq must comply, or it will be made to comply with military force."
Powell made no mention of a timetable. But the U.S. government were considering giving the U.N. inspectors more time to find Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, a senior U.S. official said.
The Security Council's next moves will be based on a report it receives Monday from chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on Iraqi cooperation in the two months since inspections resumed.
The IAEA said Friday that analyses of samples taken by nuclear inspectors in Iraq have so far not revealed any evidence of prohibited nuclear activity.
Blix has said his report will be a "mixed bag." He notes the Iraqis have cooperated well on hundreds of daily inspections since Nov. 27 _ of chemical plants, nuclear centers, medical laboratories and other "sites of concern." The inspectors thus far have not reported finding any violations of U.N. bans on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
"Their report card will be a `B,'" on requests for information and responses to questions, said Mark Gwozdecky, a spokesman for ElBaradei's nuclear agency.
But Blix complains that Iraq has resisted allowing American U-2 reconnaissance planes to aid the inspection effort.
Saturday's daily inspections took U.N. teams to Al-Qaddissiya University, 150 miles south of Baghdad; the Northern Oil Company in Mosul Province 240 miles north of the capital; and a missile site in the al-Dejehiel area, 36 miles north of Baghdad.
They also revisited the Qa Qa chemical complex, 40 miles south of Baghdad, where inspectors have checked the facilities about a dozen times since November. Western intelligence reports said Qa Qa might be the site of Iraqi chemical weapons work, but no such violations have been reported thus far.
As the crucial U.N. report date approached, the fear of war was taking stronger hold among Iraqis.
The Iraqi Parliament speaker, Saadoun Hammadi, declared Saturday that if war comes, Iraqis "will fight fiercely until the end," and would use "every method to inflict heavy damages on the enemy."
Hammadi, speaking at a news conference in New Delhi, India, did not elaborate on what he meant by "every method." The U.S. government has repeatedly warned the Iraqi military not to use any chemical or biological weapons it may have against U.S. troops.
Here in Baghdad, a few foreign embassies have decided to evacuate dependents, or even to close down. Japan has urged its citizens to leave Baghdad, citing the possibility of military action. | {
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WE SPECIALIZE IN ALL-INCLUSIVE
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY & CINEMA COLLECTIONS
It is your wedding day. Simply put, you deserve the best. We believe you should have everything you need and that you shouldn’t have to worry about the logistics. We believe in weddings done right. In order to make this happen we make sure that you always get everything that you need and that you have the option to add on anything that you want.
Our standard wedding collections always include:
2 professional photographers or cinematographers
Full-day coverage
A support hero both in planning and on your wedding day
All your images backed up online for you to access for 10 years (photography collections only)
All final images delivered to you in high resolution jpeg files (photography collections only)
Wedding highlight film to capture the story and emotions of your wedding (cinema collections only)
MEET THE TEAM
ZACH NILES
co-founder & weddings
Zach is our principal photographer and cinematographer. He is fun and enjoys joking around with couples while shooting. Zach grew up in Portland, Oregon and moved to Fresno when Third Element was first born. Zach graduated from Fresno Pacific University with a business degree where he met his wife, Nettie. Zach and Nettie were married in 2010 (and of course Forrest took the photos). Zach and Nettie have two beautiful daughters, Addison and Avery. Every once in a while you can see photos of the girls pop up on the Third Element Instagram!
NETTIE NILES
client care & administration
Nettie is our client care and administration specialist. She is the one behind the scenes sending love to all of our clients! Nettie is the “secret sauce” that supports Zach in the operation of Third Element Photography & Cinema, filling in the areas where Zach is lacking, making the company complete. Nettie can be found making sure that all the “i”s are dotted and “t”s are crossed so that everything runs smoothly. Nettie is the (beautiful and talented) wife of Zach and Super Mom to Addison and Avery. Every once in a while you can find photos of Nettie’s amazing parties that sometimes look more like a styled shoot for a magazine than a dinner party for friends!
FORREST CAVALE
co-founder & commercial
Forrest is one of our co-founders and while he no longer works full time with weddings, you can find him creating magic over at the Cavale Creative Company. Forrest and Zach met at LeTourneau University as flight majors and Forrest worked as a professional pilot and mechanic before going full time with photography. Forrest is married to Jessica and they have one son, Finn. If you pay attention while you are watching TV, you may see one of the many commercials he has filmed!
OUR STORY
The Third Element journey started unofficially in 2006. Zach and Forrest had met at LeTourneau University where they both were studying aviation. Their first wedding together was in 2006 and Zach and Forrest have grown Third Element into the company that it is today. Forrest and Zach shot full-time together from 2006 to 2011 when Zach took a break from photography to join Teach For America as a Jr. High math teacher. After his time as a teacher, Zach re-joined the Third Element team and took over the operations of the wedding and portrait business in 2014 and Forrest began focusing on growing the commercial brand 4Creeks Creative.
Today, Zach is the lead at Third Element shooting nearly every wedding on our books while Forrest spends his weeks doing commercial photography and cinema along with shooting about 1/3 of the weddings that Third Element does annually. In addition to Zach and Forrest, Third Element maintains an extensive network of highly qualified associates who are professional photographers and cinematographers and have been thoroughly trained and vetted to be able to produce imagery that we are proud to give to our clients.
THE THIRD ELEMENT COUPLE
The typical Third Element couple is a unique breed. They are full of love and romance. They believe in spending quality time together and making every moment count, even if it’s a car ride together or making dinner. They believe in getting married once and doing it right. They believe in a significant and sacred wedding ceremony and a party to celebrate during their reception. They have a timeless style and elegance about them and they choose timeless with a hint of trendy. They communicate and work together to plan a wedding that is a kickoff to their marriage together. They pay attention to the details and they make sure they are meaningful. They write thank you notes and send them with genuine love and gratitude. They plan their wedding to be significant to them, incorporating traditions from both sides of the families but making them their own. Most of all, they are best friends who have unconditional love and support for each other and they believe that they can conquer the world as long as they are together. | {
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Friday, July 14, 2017
Creature Loot: D is for Dragons (and a few others) Part 1
Not a dragon
Holy smokes, folks. I really didn't anticipate there being so much dragon stuff... but I mean it is in the name of the game. Today we'll go up through the Chromatic dragons, with a few other monsters to whet our non-dragon appetites. If you're as lost as a hobbit in a treasure hoard, check out my explanation here.
Dinosaurs
Allosaurus (2) – beast (nature)
1 Dinosaur Hide:
Acts as a blanket. Can be carefully crafted (leatherworker’s tools into the
equivalent of studded leather armor or a chain shirt.
1d4 Dinosaur Claw:
Acts as a sickle. Can be crafted (smith’s tools) into a handaxe.
Ankylosaurus (3) – beast (nature)
2 Dinosaur Hide:
Acts as a blanket. Can be carefully crafted (leatherworker’s tools into the
equivalent of studded leather armor or a chain shirt.
1 Knobbed Tail: No
immediate use. Can be carefully crafted (smith’s tools) into a Flail or
Greatclub.
Plesiosaurus (2) – beast (nature)
1 Dinosaur Hide:
Acts as a blanket. Can be carefully crafted (leatherworker’s tools) into the
equivalent of studded leather armor or a chain shirt.
1 Plesiosaurus
Bladder: Acts as a balloon. Can be crafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a
waterskin.
Triceratops (5) – beast (nature)
2 Dinosaur Hide:
Acts as a blanket. Can be carefully crafted (leatherworker’s tools into the
equivalent of studded leather armor or a chain shirt.
3 Triceratops Horns:
No immediate use. Can be carefully crafted (smith’s tools) into a Lance, Pike,
or War Pick.
1d6 Displacer Beast
Paws: No immediate use. Can be carefully crafted (transmutation) by a
spellcaster into an amulet that can cast Silent Image once per day.
Also not a dragon
Doppelganger (3) – monstrosity (nature)
2 Lumps of Doppelganger
Flesh: If applied to a missing hand or foot, it becomes a working replica of
the missing appendage, though it never grafts to the rest of the body, so
attaching it in some way is required. 2 lumps can form an arm, 3 lumps can form
a leg. It cannot replicate more complex organs such as eyes or tongues.
1 Doppelganger
Brain: No immediate use. Can be carefully crafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Mind Reading.
Dracolich (+1 from dragon) – undead (religion)
1 Phylactery: This
item is not found with the Dracolich unless the check made to loot the body was
a 30 or higher. No immediate use. If not destroyed, the Dracolich reforms the
moment the phylactery touches the corpse of another dragon.
Additionally, the
following items are no longer found with the dragon: Hide, Heart, Eyes, Scales,
Spines, Frills, Fins. They are each replaced by the following item:
Dracolich Bone: No
immediate use. 100 of these can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies and
transmutation) by a spellcaster to create a Potion of Lichdom. When drunk, the user
is instantly killed and their soul is destroyed, unless it has been removed via a
specially prepared Imprisonment spell
with a Phylactery as the material component. If it has, roll 1d20. On a 20, the
user is revived as a Lich. Their alignment becomes evil, if it wasn’t already,
and they may become an NPC under the DM’s control.
Shadow Dragon (+3 from Dragon) – dragon (nature)
3 Motes of Shadow: No
immediate use. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a Potion of
Shadow (grants resistance to damage that isn’t force, fire, or radiant for one
hour, as long as the user is in dim light or darkness).
Additionally, any damage type, resistance, vulnerability, or immunity granted by an item from the dragon is changed to Necrotic
Black Dragon
Hey! It's a dragon!
Ancient Black Dragon (21) – dragon (nature)
1 Ancient Black
Dragon Skull: If a creature with at least 18 Strength lifts the skull above
their head as an action, each creature within 120 feet of the skull must make a
DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect
ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. The
skull can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools and woodcarver’s tools) into one of
the following items: wall trophy, warhorse barding, chariot, throne, or a
ship’s figurehead. The item has the following property: when a creature who is
hostile to the current owner of the item is within 30 feet of the skull, they
must make a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A
creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful
or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next
24 hours.
2 Black Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to acid damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Black Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Acid Immunity (grants immunity to acid damage for 1 hour).
3d4 Black Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) Acid damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) acid damage on a hit. This acid
damage ignores acid resistance, but not immunity.
2d10 Black Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) acid
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to acid
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
5 Strips of Black
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Each can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s
tools) into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1,
Scale Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement,
and grants the attuned creature a swim speed of 30 feet and the ability to
breathe underwater.
1 Ancient Black
Dragon Heart: If a humanoid creature’s heart is removed or damaged in some way,
the dragon’s heart can be placed in the wound. This saves the creature’s life,
and confers the following benefits: The creature’s Strength, Constitution, and
Charisma increase by 2, to a maximum of 22. The creature gains one use of the
Legendary Resistance trait (once per day, if the creature fails a saving throw,
it may choose to succeed instead). The creature gains immunity to acid damage,
a flying speed equal to their walking speed, and darkvision out to 120 feet.
Additionally, the creature’s alignment becomes Chaotic Evil if it wasn’t
already, and they become an NPC under the DM’s control.
1 Ancient Black
Dragon Acid Pouch: Difficult to handle, deals 9 (2d8) acid damage per round to
any organic material in contact with it. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s
supplies) into a Black Dragon’s Bane Poison (if ingested, a creature must make
a DC 22 Constitution saving throw, taking 67 (15d8) acid damage on a failed
save, or half as much on a success).
3d10 Black Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to acid damage while in use.
2 Ancient Black
Dragon Horns: Acts as a magical club +3. 2 of these can be mastercrafted
(smith’s tools) into a magical greataxe +3 whose wielder can cast Darkness as an action once per day.
In Lair: 2 Treasure
Hoard 17+
In Lair: 5d20 Evil
Lizardfolk or Kobold Slaves
In Lair: 1d10 – 7
Black Dragon Eggs
Adult Black Dragon (14) – dragon (nature)
1 Adult Black Dragon
Skull: If a creature with at least 15 Strength lifts the skull above their head
as an action, each creature within 120 feet of the skull must make a DC 16
Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself
on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for
it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. The skull can
be mastercrafted (smith’s tools and woodcarver’s tools) into one of the
following items: wall trophy, warhorse barding, helmet, shield, or a ship’s
figurehead. The item has the following property: when a creature who is hostile
to the current owner of the item is within 30 feet of the skull, they must make
a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect
ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours.
2 Black Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to acid damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Black Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Acid Immunity (grants immunity to acid damage for 1 hour).
2d4 Black Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) Acid damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) acid damage on a hit. This acid
damage ignores acid resistance, but not immunity.
2d10 Black Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) acid
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to acid
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
2 Strips of Black
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Each can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools)
into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1, Scale
Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement, and
grants the attuned creature a swim speed of 30 feet and the ability to breathe
underwater.
2d10 Black Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to acid damage while in use.
2 Adult Black Dragon
Horns: Acts as a magical club +2. 2 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools)
into a magical greataxe +2.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 17+
In Lair: 3d20 Evil
Lizardfolk or Kobold Slaves
Young Black Dragon (7) – dragon (nature)
2 Black Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to acid damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Black Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Acid Immunity (grants immunity to acid damage for 1 hour).
1d4 Black Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) Acid damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) acid damage on a hit. This acid
damage ignores acid resistance, but not immunity.
1d10 Black Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) acid
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to acid
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
1 Strip of Black
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools)
into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1, Scale
Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement, and
grants the attuned creature a swim speed of 30 feet and the ability to breathe
underwater.
1d10 Black Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to acid damage while in use.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 11-16
In Lair: 1d20 Evil
Lizardfolk or Kobold Slaves
Black Dragon Wyrmling (2) – dragon (nature)
1d4 Black Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) Acid damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) acid damage on a hit. This acid
damage ignores acid resistance, but not immunity.
1d10 Black Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to acid damage while in use.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 5-10
Blue Dragon
The captions might be a little lame for this article
Ancient Blue Dragon (23) – dragon (nature)
1 Ancient Blue
Dragon Skull: If a creature with at least 19 Strength lifts the skull above
their head as an action, each creature within 120 feet of the skull must make a
DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect
ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. The
skull can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools and woodcarver’s tools) into one of
the following items: wall trophy, warhorse barding, chariot, throne, or a
ship’s figurehead. The item has the following property: when a creature who is
hostile to the current owner of the item is within 30 feet of the skull, they
must make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A
creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful
or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next
24 hours.
2 Blue Dragon Wing: Acts
as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak that
requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to lightning damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Blue Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Lightning Immunity (grants immunity to lightning damage for 1 hour).
4d4 Blue Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) Lightning
damage on a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) lightning damage on a hit. This
lightning damage ignores lightning resistance, but not immunity.
2d10 Blue Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) lightning
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to lightning
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
5 Strips of Blue
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Each can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s
tools) into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1,
Scale Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement,
and grants the attuned creature a burrow speed of 30 feet.
1 Ancient Blue Dragon
Heart: If a humanoid creature’s heart is removed or damaged in some way, the
dragon’s heart can be placed in the wound. This saves the creature’s life, and
confers the following benefits: The creature’s Strength, Constitution, and
Charisma increase by 2, to a maximum of 22. The creature gains one use of the
Legendary Resistance trait (once per day, if the creature fails a saving throw,
it may choose to succeed instead). The creature gains immunity to lightning
damage, a flying speed equal to their walking speed, and darkvision out to 120
feet. Additionally, the creature’s alignment becomes Lawful Evil if it wasn’t
already, and they may become an NPC under the DM’s control.
1 Ancient Blue
Dragon Lightning Organ: Difficult to handle, deals 9 (2d8) lightning damage per
round to any organic material in contact with it or any metal object holding
it. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a Blue Dragon’s Bane
Poison (if ingested, a creature must make a DC 23 Constitution saving throw,
taking 88 (16d10) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as much on a
success).
3d10 Blue Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to lightning damage while in use.
1 Ancient Blue
Dragon Horn: Acts as a magical club +3. Can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools)
into a magical war pick +3 whose wielder can cast Call Lightning (save DC 17) as an action once per day.
2 Blue Dragon Eyes: When
held, grants advantage on Charisma checks made to influence dragons. Each can
be mastercrafted (jeweler’s tools) into an amulet that requires attunement. An
attuned creature can cast Suggestion (save
DC 20) once per day, however, the target of the spell must have the Dragon tag.
In Lair: 2 Treasure
Hoard 17+
In Lair: 5d20
Humanoid Artisan Slaves and various monstrous minions
In Lair: 1d10 – 7
Blue Dragon Eggs
Adult Blue Dragon (16) – dragon (nature)
1 Adult Blue Dragon
Skull: If a creature with at least 16 Strength lifts the skull above their head
as an action, each creature within 120 feet of the skull must make a DC 17
Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself
on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for
it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. The skull can
be mastercrafted (smith’s tools and woodcarver’s tools) into one of the
following items: wall trophy, warhorse barding, helmet, shield, or a ship’s
figurehead. The item has the following property: when a creature who is hostile
to the current owner of the item is within 30 feet of the skull, they must make
a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect
ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours.
2 Blue Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to lightning damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Blue Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Lightning Immunity (grants immunity to lightning damage for 1 hour).
3d4 Blue Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) Lightning
damage on a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) lightning damage on a hit. This
lightning damage ignores lightning resistance, but not immunity.
2d10 Blue Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) lightning
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to lightning
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
2 Strips of Blue
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Each can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s
tools) into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1,
Scale Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement,
and grants the attuned creature a burrow speed of 30 feet.
2d10 Blue Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to lightning damage while in use.
1 Adult Blue Dragon
Horn: Acts as a magical club +2. Can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
war pick +2.
2 Blue Dragon Eyes: When
held, grants advantage on Charisma checks made to influence dragons. Each can
be mastercrafted (jeweler’s tools) into an amulet that requires attunement. An
attuned creature can cast Suggestion (save
DC 20) once per day, however, the target of the spell must have the Dragon tag.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 17+
In Lair: 3d20 Humanoid
Artisan Slaves and various monstrous minions
Young Blue Dragon (9) – dragon (nature)
2 Blue Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to lightning damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Blue Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Lightning Immunity (grants immunity to lightning damage for 1 hour).
2d4 Blue Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) Lightning
damage on a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) lightning damage on a hit. This
lightning damage ignores lightning resistance, but not immunity.
1d10 Blue Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) lightning
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to lightning
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
1 Strip of Blue
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools)
into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1, Scale
Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement, and
grants the attuned creature a burrow speed of 30 feet.
1d10 Blue Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to lightning damage while in use.
1d2 Blue Dragon Eyes:
When held, grants advantage on Charisma checks made to influence dragons. Each
can be mastercrafted (jeweler’s tools) into an amulet that requires attunement.
An attuned creature can cast Suggestion
(save DC 20) once per day, however, the target of the spell must have the
Dragon tag.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 11-16
In Lair: 1d20
Humanoid Artisan Slaves and various monstrous minions
Blue Dragon Wyrmling (3) – dragon (nature)
2d4 Blue Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) Lightning
damage on a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) lightning damage on a hit. This
lightning damage ignores lightning resistance, but not immunity.
1d10 Blue Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to lightning damage while in use.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 5-10
Green Dragon
But I mean, how many jokes can you make about dragons?
Ancient Green Dragon (22) – dragon (nature)
1 Ancient Green
Dragon Skull: If a creature with at least 18 Strength lifts the skull above
their head as an action, each creature within 120 feet of the skull must make a
DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect
ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. The
skull can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools and woodcarver’s tools) into one of
the following items: wall trophy, warhorse barding, chariot, throne, or a
ship’s figurehead. The item has the following property: when a creature who is
hostile to the current owner of the item is within 30 feet of the skull, they
must make a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A
creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful
or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next
24 hours.
2 Green Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to poison damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action. Once
this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Green Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Poison Immunity (grants immunity to poison damage for 1 hour).
3d4 Green Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) poison damage
on a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) poison damage on a hit. This
poison damage ignores poison resistance, but not immunity.
2d10 Green Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) poison
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to poison
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
5 Strips of Green
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Each can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s
tools) into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1,
Scale Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement,
and grants the attuned creature a swim speed of 30 feet, and the ability to breathe
underwater.
1 Ancient Green
Dragon Heart: If a humanoid creature’s heart is removed or damaged in some way,
the dragon’s heart can be placed in the wound. This saves the creature’s life,
and confers the following benefits: The creature’s Strength, Constitution, and
Charisma increase by 2, to a maximum of 22. The creature gains one use of the
Legendary Resistance trait (once per day, if the creature fails a saving throw,
it may choose to succeed instead). The creature gains immunity to poison damage,
a flying speed equal to their walking speed, and darkvision out to 120 feet.
Additionally, the creature’s alignment becomes Lawful Evil if it wasn’t
already, and they may become an NPC under the DM’s control.
1 Ancient Green
Dragon Poison Lung: Difficult to handle, deals 9 (2d8) poison damage per round
to any organic material in contact with it. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s
supplies) into a Green Dragon’s Bane Poison (if ingested, a creature must make
a DC 22 Constitution saving throw, taking 77 (22d6) poison damage on a failed
save, or half as much on a success).
3d10 Green Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to poison damage while in use.
3 Green Dragon
Spines: Acts as a magical dagger +1. 3 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s
tools) into a magical shortsword +3 whose wielder can cast Plant Growth as an action once per day.
In Lair: 2 Treasure
Hoard 17+
In Lair: 1d20 Elven
Slaves and 4d20 various monstrous minions
In Lair: 1d10 – 7
Green Dragon Eggs
Adult Green Dragon (15) – dragon (nature)
1 Adult Green Dragon
Skull: If a creature with at least 15 Strength lifts the skull above their head
as an action, each creature within 120 feet of the skull must make a DC 16
Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself
on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for
it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. The skull can
be mastercrafted (smith’s tools and woodcarver’s tools) into one of the
following items: wall trophy, warhorse barding, helmet, shield, or a ship’s
figurehead. The item has the following property: when a creature who is hostile
to the current owner of the item is within 30 feet of the skull, they must make
a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect
ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours.
2 Green Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to poison damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Green Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Poison Immunity (grants immunity to poison damage for 1 hour).
3d4 Green Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) poison damage
on a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) poison damage on a hit. This
poison damage ignores poison resistance, but not immunity.
2d10 Green Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) poison
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to poison
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
2 Strips of Green
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Each can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s
tools) into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1,
Scale Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement,
and grants the attuned creature a swim speed of 30 feet, and the ability to
breathe underwater.
2d10 Green Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to poison damage while in use.
2 Green Dragon
Spines: Acts as a magical dagger +1. 3 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s
tools) into a magical shortsword +3 whose wielder can cast Plant Growth as an action once per day.
In Lair:Treasure Hoard 17+
In Lair: 1d10 Elven
Slaves and 3d20 various monstrous minions
Young Green Dragon (8) – dragon (nature)
2 Green Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to poison damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Green Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Poison Immunity (grants immunity to poison damage for 1 hour).
1d4 Green Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) poison damage
on a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) poison damage on a hit. This
poison damage ignores poison resistance, but not immunity.
1d10 Green Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) poison
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to poison
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
1 Strip of Green
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools)
into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1, Scale
Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement, and
grants the attuned creature a swim speed of 30 feet, and the ability to breathe
underwater.
1d10 Green Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to poison damage while in use.
1 Green Dragon
Spine: Acts as a magical dagger +1. 3 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s
tools) into a magical shortsword +3 whose wielder can cast Plant Growth as an action once per day.
In Lair:Treasure Hoard 11-16
In Lair: 1d4 Elven
Slaves and 1d20 various monstrous minions
Green Dragon Wyrmling (2) – dragon (nature)
1d4 Green Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) poison damage
on a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) poison damage on a hit. This
poison damage ignores poison resistance, but not immunity.
1d10 Green Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to poison damage while in use.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 5-10
Red Dragon
Most of them have already been printed on cheap t-shirts from Etsy
Ancient Red Dragon (24) – dragon (nature)
1 Ancient Red Dragon
Skull: If a creature with at least 20 Strength lifts the skull above their head
as an action, each creature within 120 feet of the skull must make a DC 21
Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself
on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for
it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. The skull can
be mastercrafted (smith’s tools and woodcarver’s tools) into one of the
following items: wall trophy, warhorse barding, chariot, throne, or a ship’s
figurehead. The item has the following property: when a creature who is hostile
to the current owner of the item is within 30 feet of the skull, they must make
a DC 21 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect
ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours.
2 Red Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to fire damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Red Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Fire Immunity (grants immunity to fire damage for 1 hour).
3d4 Red Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) fire damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) fire damage on a hit. This fire
damage ignores fire resistance, but not immunity.
2d10 Red Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) fire
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to fire
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
5 Strips of Red
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Each can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s
tools) into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1,
Scale Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement,
and grants the attuned creature a climb speed of 30 feet.
1 Ancient Red Dragon
Heart: If a humanoid creature’s heart is removed or damaged in some way, the
dragon’s heart can be placed in the wound. This saves the creature’s life, and
confers the following benefits: The creature’s Strength, Constitution, and
Charisma increase by 2, to a maximum of 22. The creature gains one use of the
Legendary Resistance trait (once per day, if the creature fails a saving throw,
it may choose to succeed instead). The creature gains immunity to fire damage,
a flying speed equal to their walking speed, and darkvision out to 120 feet.
Additionally, the creature’s alignment becomes Chaotic Evil if it wasn’t
already, and they become an NPC under the DM’s control.
1 Ancient Red Dragon
Fire Sac: Difficult to handle, deals 9 (2d8) fire damage per round to any
organic or metal material in contact with it. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s
supplies) into a Red Dragon’s Bane Poison (if ingested, a creature must make a
DC 24 Constitution saving throw, taking 91 (26d6) fire damage on a failed save,
or half as much on a success).
4d10 Red Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to fire damage while in use.
2 Ancient Red Dragon
Horns: Acts as a magical club +3. 2 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s
tools) into a magical greatsword +3 whose wielder can cast Fireball (save DC 17) as an action once per day.
2 Red Dragon Eyes: When
held, grants advantage on Charisma checks made to influence dragons. Each can
be mastercrafted (jeweler’s tools) into an amulet that requires attunement. An
attuned creature can cast Fear (save
DC 20) once per day, however, the target of the spell must have the Dragon tag.
In Lair: 3 Treasure
Hoard 17+
In Lair: 3d20
Humanoid slaves
In Lair: 1d10 – 7
Red Dragon Eggs
Adult Red Dragon (17) – dragon (nature)
1 Adult Red Dragon
Skull: If a creature with at least 18 Strength lifts the skull above their head
as an action, each creature within 120 feet of the skull must make a DC 19
Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself
on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for
it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. The skull can
be mastercrafted (smith’s tools and woodcarver’s tools) into one of the
following items: wall trophy, warhorse barding, helmet, shield, or a ship’s
figurehead. The item has the following property: when a creature who is hostile
to the current owner of the item is within 30 feet of the skull, they must make
a DC 19 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect
ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours.
2 Red Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to fire damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Red Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Fire Immunity (grants immunity to fire damage for 1 hour).
2d4 Red Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) fire damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) fire damage on a hit. This fire
damage ignores fire resistance, but not immunity.
2d10 Red Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) fire
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to fire
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
2 Strips of Red
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Each can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s
tools) into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1,
Scale Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement,
and grants the attuned creature a climb speed of 30 feet.
3d10 Red Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to fire damage while in use.
2 Adult Red Dragon
Horns: Acts as a magical club +2. 2 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s
tools) into a magical greatsword +2.
2 Red Dragon Eyes: When
held, grants advantage on Charisma checks made to influence dragons. Each can
be mastercrafted (jeweler’s tools) into an amulet that requires attunement. An
attuned creature can cast Fear (save
DC 20) once per day, however, the target of the spell must have the Dragon tag.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 17+
In Lair: 1d20
Humanoid slaves
Young Red Dragon (10) – dragon (nature)
2 Red Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to fire damage. Additionally,
the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action. Once this
property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 Red Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Fire Immunity (grants immunity to fire damage for 1 hour).
2d4 Red Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) fire damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) fire damage on a hit. This fire
damage ignores fire resistance, but not immunity.
1d10 Red Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) fire
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to fire
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
1 Strip of Red Dragon
Hide: Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into the
equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1, Scale Mail +1, or
Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement, and grants the
attuned creature a climb speed of 30 feet.
2d10 Red Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to fire damage while in use.
1d2 Red Dragon
Horns: Acts as a magical club +1. 2 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s
tools) into a magical greatsword +1.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 11-16
In Lair: 1d10
Humanoid slaves
Red Dragon Wyrmling (4) – dragon (nature)
2d4 Red Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) fire damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) fire damage on a hit. This fire
damage ignores fire resistance, but not immunity.
2d10 Red Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to fire damage while in use.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 5-10
In Lair: 1d4
Humanoid slaves
White Dragon
But I suppose a running commentary on Dragon-related humor is no substitue for content
Ancient White Dragon (20) – dragon (nature)
1 Ancient White
Dragon Skull: If a creature with at least 15 Strength lifts the skull above
their head as an action, each creature within 120 feet of the skull must make a
DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself
on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for
it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. The skull can
be mastercrafted (smith’s tools and woodcarver’s tools) into one of the
following items: wall trophy, warhorse barding, chariot, throne, or a ship’s
figurehead. The item has the following property: when a creature who is hostile
to the current owner of the item is within 30 feet of the skull, they must make
a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect
ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours.
2 White Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to cold damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 White Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Cold Immunity (grants immunity to cold damage for 1 hour).
3d4 White Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) cold damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) cold damage on a hit. This cold
damage ignores cold resistance, but not immunity.
2d10 White Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) cold
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to cold
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
5 Strips of White
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Each can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s
tools) into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1,
Scale Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement,
and grants the attuned creature a burrow speed of 30 feet and the ability to
move through difficult terrain composed of ice and snow without expending extra
movement.
1 Ancient White
Dragon Heart: If a humanoid creature’s heart is removed or damaged in some way,
the dragon’s heart can be placed in the wound. This saves the creature’s life,
and confers the following benefits: The creature’s Strength, Constitution, and
Charisma increase by 2, to a maximum of 22. The creature gains one use of the
Legendary Resistance trait (once per day, if the creature fails a saving throw,
it may choose to succeed instead). The creature gains immunity to cold damage,
a flying speed equal to their walking speed, and darkvision out to 120 feet.
Additionally, the creature’s alignment becomes Chaotic Evil if it wasn’t
already, and they become an NPC under the DM’s control.
1 Ancient White
Dragon Ice Gland: Difficult to handle, deals 9 (2d8) cold damage per round to
any organic material in contact with it. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s
supplies) into a White Dragon’s Bane Poison (if ingested, a creature must make
a DC 22 Constitution saving throw, taking 72 (16d8) cold damage on a failed
save, or half as much on a success).
3d10 White Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to cold damage while in use.
1 Ancient White
Dragon Frond: Acts as a magical handaxe +3. Can be mastercrafted (smith’s
tools) into a magical glaive +3 whose wielder can cast Sleet Storm (save DC 17) as an action once per day.
In Lair: 2 Treasure
Hoard 17+
In Lair: 5d20 Monster
Corpse Trophies
In Lair: 1d10 – 7
White Dragon Eggs
Adult White Dragon (13) – dragon (nature)
1 Adult White Dragon
Skull: If a creature with at least 13 Strength lifts the skull above their head
as an action, each creature within 120 feet of the skull must make a DC 14
Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat
the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself
on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for
it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours. The skull can
be mastercrafted (smith’s tools and woodcarver’s tools) into one of the
following items: wall trophy, warhorse barding, helmet, shield, or a ship’s
figurehead. The item has the following property: when a creature who is hostile
to the current owner of the item is within 30 feet of the skull, they must make
a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect
ends for it, the creature is immune to this effect for the next 24 hours.
2 White Dragon Wing:
Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a cloak
that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to cold damage.
Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move action.
Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next dawn.
1 White Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Cold Immunity (grants immunity to cold damage for 1 hour).
2d4 White Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) cold damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) cold damage on a hit. This cold
damage ignores cold resistance, but not immunity.
d10 White Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) cold
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to cold
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
2 Strips of White
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Each can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s
tools) into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1,
Scale Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement,
and grants the attuned creature a burrow speed of 30 feet and the ability to
move through difficult terrain composed of ice and snow without expending extra
movement.
2d10 White Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to cold damage while in use.
1d22 White Dragon
Wing: Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools) into a
cloak that requires attunement, and grants its wearer resistance to cold
damage. Additionally, the wearer may fly up to 40 feet as part of their move
action. Once this property is used, it cannot be used again until the next
dawn.
1 White Dragon Tail:
Acts as a magical whip +1. Can be mastercrafted (alchemist’s supplies) into a
Potion of Cold Immunity (grants immunity to cold damage for 1 hour).
1d4 White Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) cold damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) cold damage on a hit. This cold
damage ignores cold resistance, but not immunity.
1d10 White Dragon
Fangs: Acts as a magical Shortsword that deals an additional 4 (1d8) cold
damage on a hit. If planted into fertile soil, after 1d10 days the tooth will
grow into an armed humanoid warrior. The Warrior has the statistics of a Guard
(MM pg. 347) except that its type is construct and it has immunity to cold
damage. The warrior will attack the first thing it sees, fighting until dead.
1 Strip of White
Dragon Hide: Acts as a blanket. Can be mastercrafted (leatherworker’s tools)
into the equivalent of one of the following: Studded Leather Armor +1, Scale
Mail +1, or Splint armor +1. Additionally, the armor requires attunement, and grants
the attuned creature a burrow speed of 30 feet and the ability to move through
difficult terrain composed of ice and snow without expending extra movement.
1d10 White Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to cold damage while in use.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 11-16
In Lair: 1d20
Monster Corpse Trophies
White DragonWyrmling (2) – dragon (nature)
1d4 White Dragon
Claws: Acts as a magical dagger that deals an additional 4 (1d8) cold damage on
a hit. 6 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into a magical
greatsword that deals an additional 13 (3d8) cold damage on a hit. This cold
damage ignores cold resistance, but not immunity.
1d10 White Dragon
Scales: No immediate use. 25 of these can be mastercrafted (smith’s tools) into
a shield that grants resistance to cold damage while in use.
In Lair: Treasure
Hoard 5-10
I wanted to go for the feeling that if you manage to kill one of these dragons, you've got the resources to outfit the entire party in sick-looking dragon gear.
Next week we'll finish up the second half of the Dragons and the rest of the D's (finally!!) | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
The Hamiltonian for a system of spinless fermions on a 1D chain (with chemical potential $\mu=0$) is given by
$$ H=-\sum_j\left( c^\dagger_{j+1} c_j+h.c.\right)+\Delta \sum_j \left( c^\dagger_{j+1}c^\dagger_j+h.c.\right)
$$
where $\Delta$ is some number. If we introduce
$$ c_j=\frac{1}{\sqrt{N}}\sum_k e^{ikj}c_k$$
We obtain the result below:
I see that, to obtain my old coupling term, I have to let $e^{ik}c_k^\dagger c_{-k}^\dagger=e^{-ik}c_k c_{-k}=0$, but I can't explain why. Can someone please help me with this step? Here is a similar question posed in a problem set from a German university for your reference: http://users.physik.fu-berlin.de/~romito/qft2011/set6.pdf
1 Answer
1
First, watch out for the factors of 2 and $\sin(k)$s in your line 3 (after doing the fourier transform).
Second, you do not want to set those terms to zero.
Instead, remember that $k$ is just a dummy index. I could consider each term as a separate sum, and for some of them, I'll set $k \rightarrow -k$. Then $$-e^{ik}c_{k}^{\dagger}c_{-k}^{\dagger} \rightarrow -e^{-ik}c_{-k}^{\dagger}c_{k}^{\dagger}= +e^{-ik}c_{k}^{\dagger}c_{-k}^{\dagger}$$
... and this guy just gets absorbed into the first term.
Another way to think about this is that we should, strictly speaking, only consider the sum in the Nambu hamiltonian as only counting modes with $k \geq 0$, and then we need both kinds of terms since one ends up then also counting the original terms with $k \leq 0$. People tend to be very sloppy with this notation however. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
thanks for the welcome back, been a long time under the rock . I thought it was about time to come out and keep you honest knowing that the good horses are just around the corner.,by the way how is Jill going when is her next start at Sandown?
Me and a few lads from here are in a syndicate that part owns Flying Omission, trained by D Weir. Had his first start today at Mildura, ran 3rd. Came out from the widest gate and settled last, seemed to lose a bit of contact with them and was a length or two off them at the turn, and only really got warmed up the last few hundred. I'm sure they will look to 1400m now and that should suit him a bit better than the 1200m. He's a Flying Spur / Erin Bee.
"Well, I will never post again, if the Oz dollar doesnt go below 80 cents within the year 2012." - Occy22
You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot create polls in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
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"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
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"Gas basket" Ukraine: what proportion of domestic gas will be?
Ukraine is to Russia not only long fights for the Donbass, and protracted diplomatic with the participation of the European Commission for the transit of gas through Ukraine and Russian gas supplies "Naftogaz" at prices of the European market. In short, the continued difficult bargaining for the second so-called winter package. Formally, September 16 at the Vienna talks the parties agreed on the main points, and is expected to sign an agreement next week in order to have from October 1, "Gazprom" resumed gazopostavki to Ukraine for its needs on a prepaid basis.
According to the first "winter package" "Naftogaz" buy Russian gas at the end of November 2014 on 1 June 2015 imports of Russian natural gas directly to the needs of Ukraine, according to the top management of the government and "Naftogaz" should only complement the so-called diversified gas basket of the country, to reduce risks and dependence on one source of imported gas - "Gazprom". And last year, in this sense, we have made considerable progress, increasing gas imports from Europe as repeatedly told ZN.UA. But the main source of gas supply to Ukraine was and remains the natural gas production in its own territory. Here success, as evidenced by the facts were much more modest.
Given the inertia of the industry, the decline of production rates this year may be adversely affected by the general situation with the gas. Already this year, the situation with gas production in Ukraine has deteriorated dramatically. This applies both to the state company "Ukrgasdobycha" parastatal "Ukrnafta" and private mining companies. If the first eight months of last year production growth was 2.5%, but this year for the same period, on the contrary, there is a drop in production of 2.5%. In absolute terms, the fall has 300 million cubic meters. Nationwide, at first glance, it seems to be not critical yet, but the trend is alarming. On this and many other related problems of the national mining industry September 10 held a substantive discussion with direct participants of the Ukrainian gas market in the course of the round table "Will Ukraine with its own gas: production, taxes and investments", organized ZN.UA and consulting company "Nyufolk ". For publication, we have chosen the most reasoned and bright, in our view, to the speakers.
According to most of them, the main problem of gas production in Ukraine remains high taxes. Raising the rent twice in August last year, radically changed the situation on the market. The period of rapid growth in gas production is over and today this industry is going through, to put it mildly, not the best of times. Some cushion companies and inert process gas production still fails to fully experience the depth of the problems of the mining industry. In addition to high taxes, private companies have a lot of other problems, first and foremost, with the state policy on gas production. An illustrative example is the situation with the largest private natural gas producer "Neftegazdobycha", which in the past three years is a part of DTEK. For five months, state authorities block the work of the company. Its accounts are arrested, which makes it impossible to sell gas, "Neftegazdobycha" forced to give it to the gas transportation system is actually pumped into underground gas storage (UGS) at not quite certain conditions. Today, about 450 million cubic meters of gas the company is in underground storage. Roughly speaking, this gas resource is simply withdrawn from the market, and that a third of the gas produced by private companies. If the situation does not change, about a thousand people working in the company, as well as contractors, will be unemployed.
Government policy in relation to the private gas production is not only fraught with problems in the energy sector, but will have significant implications for all economic and social development, especially in those regions where mining companies, including private ones, and where they took over a large part of the social burden.
Oleg PROKHORENKO, head of the PAO "Ukrgasdobycha": "If the policy of the state regarding the" Ukrgasdobycha "will not change fundamentally, we will continue to lose its gas. Representing the largest public gas producer country, unfortunately, I consider it necessary to talk about the threat of decline . Because if the state policy regarding the PAO "Ukrgasdobycha" will not change fundamentally, we will continue to lose its gas production in Ukraine. I responsibly declare: Unfortunately, there is a decline in gas production this year. It is 200 million cubic meters in the area of ATO and the fall of natural gas companies operating under joint operating agreements (DM) with PAO "Ukrgasdobycha." This year, more precisely, in the second half of the year, we are already working in the new tax regime - rents on extracted gas is 70%. This situation killing the company. We do a lot of calculations, projections, we do a lot to save money ... but it will not save us. Here are the latest estimates prepared by us. In our economy influenced by four main factors.
The first - the price of gas sales.
The second - the world price of oil, it linked the prices of our oil products and liquefied gas, we produce and sell.
The third factor - the level of rents, ie taxes.
Fourth - the level of payments to "Naftogaz Ukraine", which sells all of the produced gas.
What is happening? We are working at 70% of the rent for the last month the price of oil slipped by 20-25%. This means that the money that we had planned to receive for the sale of petroleum products and that finance the current activities of the company, we will receive less. If we were planning to get for petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas about 600 million USD per month, now this amount will not exceed 500 million USD. And this is not the limit. Now we have to make predictions and calculations based on an oil price of $ 30. Per barrel. In the basic financial plan for the next year pawned oil price of $ 60. Per barrel, but I do not believe in this forecast.
I think that the oil price will be closer to $ 30. Per barrel. In such circumstances, if the rent is 70%, the price of oil - $ 30. Per barrel, and the level of payments "Naftogaz" for gas "Ukrgasdobycha" - only 83% of that observed in the last year, after payment of all taxes remains for us to finance all activities, operating and capital, 1.3 billion USD. As it is correlated with the needs of the company, unless the operating costs necessary to 5.7 billion USD? First of all, wages, energy, basic spare parts for repairs, transportation, chemicals, interest on bank loans - without all this the company simply "stop", we will not be able to service existing wells. But this is only the current activities excluding new capital investment. To support the production of gas at the existing level, to compensate for the natural pressure drop, we need substantial investment. If we do not make any capital investment, are drilling are not, do not do the operation on gas production intensification, the next year production could fall to 12.4 billion cubic meters of natural gas to 14.5 billion cubic meters this year.
To maintain production at a level of 14.5 billion cubic meters in 2016, we need to invest 13.5 billion USD. This amount includes USD 8.2 billion for drilling, seismic, pipes and other equipment, construction and connection of new wells. If we drill, connect new wells, moving at the level of the past and current years, it will predictably 1.24 billion cubic meters of gas to partially compensate for the natural fall. But this is not enough. If we want to fulfill the plan for the extraction of gas in the volume of 14.5 billion cubic meters a year, we need to produce an additional 900 million cubic meters, which we can get, especially from operations to intensify existing wells and on commissioning of booster compressor stations. This is 5.3 billion USD. The baseline for the next year (in case of lack of funds for investment) - a drop in production to 12.4 billion cubic meters. "Ukrgasdobycha" hopes to produce 14.5 billion cubic meters, ie necessary to compensate for the loss of 2.1 billion cubic meters of gas. This requires operating costs at 5.7 billion USD, capital expenditures - 13.5 billion. That is, if the rent is 70% when the price of oil continues to fall, we do not (will not) means even on operations, not to mention the capital investment.
The question arises: what he wants from the state "Ukrgasdobycha"? Or the state continues to extort money from the company through the rents in the falling volumes of gas or the government wants to maintain the level of gas production, which shows the company. Miracles do not happen, we can save on procurement, on implementation, but production - is a physical process, it drops all the time to maintain it needed capital investment. That's what happens with the production without investment by the example of one of the "youngest" of our fields - Kobzevskogo (see. Fig. Online ZN.UA). Prior to April 2014 due to investments mainly in new wells has been able to maintain production levels. But all this time remained underfunded construction of a booster compressor station (BCS), which would allow to maintain production at the level of 2012-2014., And since May 2014 is rapidly beginning to lose mine production rate. After a delay of several years BCS yet been put in place, but now it can perhaps a little support production at mid-2015, the effect of BAC is much less - the deposit will not be able to return to the level of production 2012-2014. That is, the more we hold off on investment, the more we save in gas and can even lose the deposit. This is a simple physics of the process.
The state must choose the way: either we do not fund capital investments of the state mining company (by reducing rents), then soon we get a picture of falling gas production in all fields, as shown in the example Kobzevskogo; and we strive to maintain production at a constant level - then you need to invest. We did the calculations, if we produce 2.14 billion cubic meters of gas (in addition, more than indicators of the baseline scenario of 12.4 billion cubic meters in 2016), it would cost the state 4.4 billion UAH (including depreciation of long-term investments needed to next year). If we do not s get this amount of gas, the state ("Naftogaz") will go to the market and buy the volume of the import of 12.3 billion USD. This is what we take account of gas price of $ 250. Per thousand cubic meters. The State, represented by "Naftogaz" would still need to provide the 2.1 billion cubic meters. The question arises: what is better - to get it in Ukraine, which will give us a salary to workers, domestic enterprises will download orders or pick up money from us through the rent and then buy the same gas in Russia three times more expensive? Saving 70% of the rent - is additional budget expenditures on the purchase of gas and increased our gas dependency on Russia.
Arthur Somov, CFO "Karpatygaz": "In 70% of the rent, even the drug trade becomes uninteresting. We work on the basis of cooperation agreements with the state company" Ukrgasdobycha. "In his speech, I will focus on three fundamental areas. Item 1. With respect to insurance stock, I want everyone to understand why private companies are so worried. Today, the gas business, I can say responsibly, do not believe the government. In any state initiative begins search for "where the crux of the matter", and not even a dog, the whole horse. Perhaps it is a problem of the entire state, why not built communications, at least with the oil and gas business.
Probably, if the ratio is correct, then after some time the trust return. But to date, the trust of the gas business in the state is not. This also applies to the situation last winter, when "Naftogaz Ukraine" addressed the monopoly supplier of gas for more than a hundred of the largest enterprises. This also applies to our personal experience with the previous government.
Item 2. "Karpatygaz" works at the intersection of public and private sector - working with "Ukrgasdobycha." I 110% support the head "Ukrgasdobycha." Today in Ukraine develops rather interesting situation: all initiatives to reduce rent payments apply only to private companies, which account for 15-20% of gas production. Then, like a huge share of the market - 80% of which occur in "Ukrgasdobycha" - subject to the rent of 70%. The main problem of the gas market - the rent, the rent and the rent again. No transparency of the market, do not tender ... When 70% of the rent, even the drug trade becomes uninteresting, not to mention the gas production in Ukraine. Therefore, the rent will be reduced - investors will come. The experience of the previous two or three years has shown that the opacity of the market, its infrastructure problems are not put off foreign investors from coming to Ukraine. Here JKX came back in the mid-90s of the last century, when Ukraine was generally incomprehensible situation. The same applies to Burisma, Shell, etc. If companies are imposing some insane taxes, it does not matter what other conditions are created, they will be derivatives only thing.
Paragraph 3, painful enough for us - the PSA (Production Sharing Agreement). In fact, when we talk with the deputies, everything is understood. But the result is important! In July, the bill was defeated by a change, improve the PSA. Because it came to the rostrum Rada deputy of one of the right-wing parties and unproven he told that it's all bad. And we voted against. Populism is not just rolls over, it is no longer limited. Returning to the problems of "Karpatygaz" have today the state is pushing for the signing of the PSA. But probably not in the conditions that exist today. When we serve the documents for signing the PSA, where everything is approved, I am afraid that by the time we had "a bit dead" to sign the PSA will have no one. But in general we welcome all foreign investors in the oil and gas sector of Ukraine.
Andrew MIZOVETS, president of the Association of "Gas Traders of Ukraine", "Insurance reserves of gas at the proposed conditions - it is freezing of funds". Add some numbers. Let's start with the fact that, according to "Ukrtransgaz", in July for the industry was supplied 640 million cubic meters of gas. Of these, "Naftogaz of Ukraine" - 60 million cubic meters, the company related to Oblgases - 40 million, not including HMOs, all the rest "closed" private providers traders. That is, the share of private traders in the summer reaches 80% of the total supply industrial consumers.
Of course, since the fall of their share will decline, while the share of "Naftogaz" and the regional gas companies to grow. But the fact that private providers play an important role in the gas industry, says that the work is done, and there are results. More figures. Last year production growth of private companies reached 30%, and this year we expect to fall.
Why? The answer is simple: taxes, rent, money washed out. Separately recall the decision of the Cabinet Forced transfer of consumers in the gas supply "Naftogaz". Until today, in order to return customers, the mining companies and associated gas traders are forced to sell at a large discount. Already mid-September, but we still have no understanding as we go through the winter heating season. We have less gas in underground storage than last year. Yes, in the country to reduce gas consumption, since the beginning of the year for the industry - by 25%, all in Ukraine - 20%. But the fall in consumption does not solve the issue of gas injection into underground storage facilities.
Next problem - the formation of an insurance reserve. "Current" resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers provides for each supplier of 10 percent of the supply of gas supplies quarterly, is about 30% of deliveries per month. Who we are invited to "insure" 100%! If a judgment will (as expected on September 20) to October 1, already have to have an insurance reserve. Where his brother? Insurance gas supply - is the freezing of money. If mining companies providing the resources, so they, too, should form the stock, while still pay the rent for the produced gas, which forms the reserve stock. Today, private companies supply the market 350- 400 million cubic meters of gas per month, or 1-1.2 billion in the quarter. Under the current legislation, UGS private traders need to keep 120 million cubic meters of gas, and the new - already 400 million. This gas will actually "lie" in underground storage instead of going to the market - consumers. At today's prices is about 2 billion USD, they need somewhere to take. Loans also now no one gives. All look forward to the enactment of the regulator, which dot the "i". I wish that it was as progressive as the Law "On the Natural Gas Market", which we really applaud.
Roman Storozhev, president of the Association "Subsoil users of Ukraine", "The increase in safety stock is killing the business of traders, without solving the problem per se. In addition, 300 million cubic meters of gas in underground storage facilities is necessary to replace the market with imported gas. Be saved if Georgia 300 million cubic meters of gas in underground storage facilities in winter period? I think not. 300 million cubic meters at the national level - it is very small, but if from the turnover of the domestic market, such a situation may derail market scare off investors. This will require gas suppliers to "freeze" 100% of current assets, simply omit them in store. Where can I get money? Loans in UAH today - is 35% per annum, and if we go to a foreign bank the first category, there us no one will give money, because in Ukraine there is a sixfold require collateral.
In western Ukraine, in fact, no one believes, no we will not give gas in storage, no we will not give cheap loans. Upon the decision to increase the safety stock traders kills business, and in fact does not solve the problem of filling of UGS. As I said, 300 million cubic meters - is very little to "Naftogaz Ukraine".
However, Yuri Vitrenko, business development director of "Naftogaz Ukraine", said that "Naftogaz" in early summer offers private mining companies and traders to form gas reserves in underground storage facilities for the coming winter as a resource, produced and harvested in Ukraine and from import. But no company on such an appeal has not responded. In this sense, according to Yu.Vitrenko, the above-mentioned participants of the gas market can be said to have brought. And not shared jointly and severally liable with the NAC. Nevertheless, he is confident that by the beginning of the heating season in the Ukrainian underground gas storage is accumulated at least 16.5 billion cubic meters of gas.
In view of reverse supply and import of "Gazprom", says Yu.Vitrenko, Ukraine may take the coming autumn-winter season is relatively painless. So "Help!", In his opinion, it is not necessary to shout. However, in more detail about the situation on the gas market and its vision Yu.Vitrenko and other top managers "Naftogaz" will be discussed in the next room ZN.UA.
As the position of the legislators, in particular, the deputy Olga Belkova. She says that the government is seeking a compromise with the tax relationship with the private mining companies. And although it is not a final solution to the problem, start. In addition, O.Belkova initiated the next week in the framework of the round table TEKovskogo Committee. It just goes on the PSA, which is so opposed to private gas producers. | {
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GPTU WEBSITE
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
GATHERINGS BUT NOT BLATHERINGS
Hi Flotsams and Jetsams
GATHERINGS BUT NOT BLATHERINGS
Welcome to the latest of our occasional Rising Tide UK Newsletters with details of stuff to go to!
1) SAVE THE DATE FOR FUN & FROLICS WITH FELLOW MISCHIEF MAKERS:-Sunday September 13th 2015,We’re announcing “Open Season” with the Art Not Oil Coalition www.artnotoil.org.ukPlease join us and SAVE THE DATE for a mass creative protest against big oil!Maybe even a festivoil?It’s time to step things up. The day will finish with a grand finale where different groups will gather for a mass performance and we’ll send you more details of that closer to the time. Get the date in your diaries. We'll be doing a more public announcement about this later, so please don't post it on social media yet, so we can make a proper splash about it closer to the time - thanks!
With just over a week to go to the Breaking the Frame2 Gathering there are still a few places left, but book soon if you want a bed rather than your tent! We have an exciting programme with speakers from campaign groups, academics and writers. Breaking the Frame is not just another summer gathering (although there will be plenty of time to relax and enjoy yourself) - it's an innovative effort to rethink our approach to the crucial issue of technology, by learning from each other and drawing on everyone's insights and experience. Neither is it just another political event focused on problems - we will be thinking together about how to gain democratic control of technology and what sort of future we want. So, if you care about the politics of technology, whether it's GM food, surveillance, renewable energy, women and digital technology, or designer babies; whether you're a technology politics campaigner, trade unionist, environmentalist, critical scientist, developer of alternative technology, artist or plain concerned citizen; Breaking the Frame2 is not to be missed. Come and help us change the debate on technology.
3) 19th-24th August, 2015 (Wed-Mon)EARTH FIRST SUMMER GATHERING At a rural site in the Derbyshire Peak District (TBC)The EF! Summer Gathering is 5 days of workshops, networking and planning actions at a low impact eco-living camp organised non-hierarchically. It's run without leaders by everyone who comes along, so come prepared to chip in! Five days of skill-sharing for grassroots ecological direct action - make links, share ideas, and get involved in the struggles against fracking, new roads and more. The Gathering will be camping at a rural site (accessible by public transport) so you'll need to bring a tent, sleeping bag, torch and suchlike. Meals are provided by the Gathering's collective kitchen and there'll be a snack shop. Everyone is crew, so the site, including toilets and running water, will be run by us all. Contact : summergathering@earthfirst.org.uk http://earthfirstgathering.org/That's all for now so fill in 13th September in your diary and go and get your tent ready!
Please contact P.Murry at yrrumuk@googlemail.com if you are interested.
GREEN LEFT FRINGE AT AUTUMN CONFERENCE 2012
Both Green Left and the Green Party Trade Union Group applied to have fringes at the Green Party Conference September 7-10 2012, Conferences Committee turned down both these requests. Green Left decided to mount a fringe outside conference at 6-8pm on Saturday 8th September GPTU agreed to support this meeting and contribute towards costs of room hire. Video clips at http://greenleftblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/green-left-fringe-fringe-at-green-party.html | {
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Workshops
Andy’s music reflects an ideal combination of respect for traditional music heritage with a willingness to push the envelope in expanding the contemporary repertoire available to hammer dulcimer players.
Janet Swartz, Dulcimer Society of Northern Illinois
Andy wowed so many people with his teaching, playing, and fresh approach to the instrument last year that we're bringing him back this year as a featured performer.
Sam Edelston, chair, Nutmeg Dulcimer Festival
He was able to clearly explain and teach some very complicated musical concepts to students with remarkable success.
Joanie Blanton, Upper Potomac Music Weekends
Andy has become one of my new favorite teachers at the Upper Potomac Music Weekends.
Joanie Blanton, Upper Potomac Music Weekends
Promo Materials
Below are downloadable materials for use in promoting upcoming events. Please email any questions or requests. | {
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Price as reviewed:
I first got my hands on this delightful custom Beretta in the April 2015 issue of Shooting Gazette. On first look the differences are purely aesthetic: the Classic we tested last year had fully scroll-engraved side plates, but this month’s gun is engraved with game scene vignettes. And despite almost identical specifications between the two guns, one small difference ticked on the options list has had a marked impact, creating a gun with almost unrecognisable handling characteristics. More on that later.
The intervening months have done little to dull the appeal of this Beretta – it remains a tempting prospect as an entry into the world of high-end guns. Somewhat puzzlingly, variants with game scene engraving as seen on our test gun are actually significantly cheaper than the scroll-engraved gun reviewed previously, to the tune of £725. It seems likely that many sportsmen and women will be very happy indeed with the vignettes on display here – two ovals on each side of the action featuring highly detailed scenes of game birds including pheasants and flushing ducks.
Fulsomely engraved
Elsewhere, the gun is fulsomely engraved, with almost every part of the expansive action body and sideplates given plenty of attention. There is some extremely tight and neat foliate scroll engraving alongside large patches of deeply carved acanthus, tight border work around the shoulders of the sideplates, carved fences and attractive rose-style designs carried out on the hinge-pin and various screws.
Underneath, the gun is no less impressive, with attention given to the fore-end release lever and trigger guard, and screws on the extended trigger guard tang. The engraving gives a good impression of depth, has been well finished and is striking, though arguably a little busy when taken as a whole. The more expensive scroll engraving option gives the gun a rather more cohesive and refined overall look to my eye. Ironically, however, the cheaper game scene engraving option probably gives the impression of being a more expensive gun.
Quality of construction and wood remain hallmarks of Beretta guns, and this is brought to bear impressively on these higher-end models. Wood-to-metal fit is astonishingly good for guns that must be produced in fairly prodigious numbers. The quality of the wood chosen is also high, with lovely fi guring on display alongside tight and strait grain through the rounded semi-pistol grip. The stock and fore-end have an appealing deep oil finish to them, a clear jump in quality over Beretta’s mass-produced guns and quite fitting for something likely to making an appearance on the best shoots around the country.
Chequering is astonishingly fine and feels superb in the hand but looks particularly handsome on the wooden butt plate on the stock, where it surrounds the Beretta logo. However, this is where I have my only real complaint with the finishing, as the retaining screws in the butt plate stand out like a pair of sore thumbs and might have been hidden by some wooden plugs.
Visually, then, the 687 EELL Classic remains successful – but what of it in the field? In our previous review Bill Elderkin suggested potential buyers steer clear of ticking the multichoke option for fear of ‘upsetting the balance of the gun’, and indeed the addition of multichokes to this otherwise identical gun totally changes its handling characteristics.
Though this month’s test gun had the same 30” barrels as the Classic we tested previously, on handling alone you would be hard pressed to recognise these Berettas are related, with the point of balance now being well forward of the hinge pin. Where previously I praised the gun for its neutral handling, noting the particular pleasure in faster, more instinctive shooting, here it rewards deliberate, thoughtful shooting and needs sustained effort and concentration for success.
One should note this is not necessarily a criticism, rather a description of how a seemingly small change can make a startling a difference to a gun’s character.
The 687 EELL Classic from Beretta remains an eminently desirable item. It is competitively priced, very much looks the part, and is likely something that any sportsman or woman could take great pride in owning. However, like buying a new car, a test drive is essential before heading for the sales counter to make sure you get the right model for you.
Beretta 687 EELL Classic in the field
The handling was a real surprise to me and the instructors at Grange Farm Shooting School, as it was clearly barrel heavy. While this could have been down to the multichokes, there was some speculation as to the impact of the density of the wood in the stock. Though you might expect to find the point of balance forward of the hinge-pin, here it was a good 2” forward.
As a result, this gun required a deliberate style to shoot well, with a strong forward movement needed for a consistently clean mount. It felt quite different from the Classic tested previously.
Once in the shoulder the gun moved extremely well and certainly did not feel its 7lb 4oz weight. It dealt with recoil impressively and muzzle flip was not noticeable, though on the day we were only shooting with relatively light loads.
The trigger was weighted excellently and added to an overall feeling of quiet security when shooting. I do, however, prefer my guns to be a little more lively in the hand and this variant required a not insignifi cant amount of concentration for continued success. Although interestingly, where I had struggled with long crossing targets when testing the previous Classic, this model was defi nitely easier to keep on line, and the same targets were far more easily and consistently broken.
I wouldn’t describe this model as having inferior handling to the previously-tested Beretta; rather it simply felt quite different.
It was an interesting illustration of the impact a seemingly small change can have on a gun’s handling, and a reminder that properly testing a gun before buying it is always highly recommended.
View from the gun shop, by Bill Elderkin
As an introduction to the world of premium guns you can certainly do a lot worse than the Beretta 687 EELL Classic. Staying within the world of Beretta guns, the next model in the range starts at a heady £14,750, and once you move up into the world of sidelock guns you are looking at spending the better part of £40,000 for the SO6 and over £70,000 for the SO10. A pair of 687 EELL Classic guns, meanwhile, have a premium of about £1,000 per gun, meaning you could get yourself a pair of beautiful guns fi t for the best shooting in the land for under the price of just one Jubilee shotgun.
For guns with custom dimensions and those who shoot left-handed, there is about a six-month lead time, increasing to a year for pairs. Generally the 687 EELL is quite readily available, though those opting for shorter 28” barrels or the scroll-engraved gun previously reviewed are likely to have to wait a bit longer.
These are very popular and it is not difficult to see why. At first glance they look very special thanks to the excellent quality of wood and intricate engraving. This example has some tremendous figuring and has been given a delightful finish, with the oil providing a deep, natural shine – I would be surprised to see anything better than this on a Jubilee shotgun. The side plates give plenty of room for engraving, and the work on display, while generally not being particularly deep, has been well executed.
The supplied case is a particularly welcome feature, being well lined and featuring excellent leather detailing along with three locks. A boon is the presence of handles on both the end of the case and the side – very handy when loading or unloading your car. It certainly makes a difference.
Essentially, this is a well-thought-out product and is a very fine package for a good price. Beretta Classics are popular with a variety of sportsmen and women and won’t look out of place next to the best English guns on shoot day. Indeed, you might well ask what the difference is between this gun and a Silver Pigeon, since so many of Beretta’s firearms are built on the same action, but this is just as true of a gun from Purdey or Holland & Holland as it is of Beretta or Browning.
Verdict
Compares favourably with its competitors and the next model in the Beretta range, the Jubilee.
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/* +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | PHP Version 5 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Copyright (c) 1997-2012 The PHP Group | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | This source file is subject to version 3.01 of the PHP license, | | that is bundled with this package in the file LICENSE, and is | | available through the world-wide-web at the following url: | | http://www.php.net/license/3_01.txt | | If you did not receive a copy of the PHP license and are unable to | | obtain it through the world-wide-web, please send a note to | | license@php.net so we can mail you a copy immediately. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Author: Ruslan Osmanov <osmanov@php.net> | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+*/#ifndef PHP_EV_PRIV_H#define PHP_EV_PRIV_H#include "types.h"#include "macros.h"externconstzend_function_entryev_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_loop_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_watcher_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_io_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_timer_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_periodic_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_signal_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_child_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_stat_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_idle_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_check_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_prepare_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_embed_class_entry_functions[];externconstzend_function_entryev_fork_class_entry_functions[];externconstphp_ev_property_entryev_test_property_entries[];externconstphp_ev_property_entryev_loop_property_entries[];externconstphp_ev_property_entryev_watcher_property_entries[];externconstphp_ev_property_entryev_io_property_entries[];externconstphp_ev_property_entryev_timer_property_entries[];externconstphp_ev_property_entryev_periodic_property_entries[];externconstphp_ev_property_entryev_signal_property_entries[];externconstphp_ev_property_entryev_child_property_entries[];externconstphp_ev_property_entryev_stat_property_entries[];externconstphp_ev_property_entryev_embed_property_entries[];externconstzend_property_infoev_test_property_entry_info[];externconstzend_property_infoev_loop_property_entry_info[];externconstzend_property_infoev_watcher_property_entry_info[];externconstzend_property_infoev_io_property_entry_info[];externconstzend_property_infoev_timer_property_entry_info[];externconstzend_property_infoev_periodic_property_entry_info[];externconstzend_property_infoev_signal_property_entry_info[];externconstzend_property_infoev_child_property_entry_info[];externconstzend_property_infoev_stat_property_entry_info[];externconstzend_property_infoev_embed_property_entry_info[];zval*php_ev_default_loop(TSRMLS_D);voidphp_ev_io_object_ctor(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS,zval*loop,zend_boolctor,zend_boolstart);voidphp_ev_timer_object_ctor(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS,zval*loop,zend_boolctor,zend_boolstart);voidphp_ev_periodic_object_ctor(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS,zval*loop,zend_boolctor,zend_boolstart);voidphp_ev_child_object_ctor(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS,zval*loop,zend_boolctor,zend_boolstart);voidphp_ev_stat_object_ctor(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS,zval*loop,zend_boolctor,zend_boolstart);voidphp_ev_idle_object_ctor(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS,zval*loop,zend_boolctor,zend_boolstart);voidphp_ev_check_object_ctor(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS,zval*loop,zend_boolctor,zend_boolstart);voidphp_ev_prepare_object_ctor(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS,zval*loop,zend_boolctor,zend_boolstart);voidphp_ev_embed_object_ctor(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS,zval*loop,zend_boolctor,zend_boolstart);voidphp_ev_fork_object_ctor(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS,zval*loop,zend_boolctor,zend_boolstart);#endif /* PHP_EV_PRIV_H *//* * Local variables: * tab-width: 4 * c-basic-offset: 4 * vim600: fdm=marker * vim: noet sts=4 sw=4 ts=4 */ | {
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Images leak for the Sony C6603 ‘Yuga’
We reported about a new Sony beast dubbed the “Odin” or C650X (the X gets replaced with a number) from a leaked agent profile and shortly after, an image leaked. Now we have images of a C6603 compliments of German site Android Schweiz, with a codename “Yuga”. I am assuming this is the same phone, but with a new bump in the model number. The specs seem the same as anticipated, 5-inch 1080p display, 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, and running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. They are claiming the camera is 12MP, but you would think it would be the 13MP Exmor RS. Who knows, that could still change. Another tidbit is that it will sport a unibody design so that means no removable battery, but they will include a microSD slot and microHDMI port. Could we see this at CES? More pics after the break. | {
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NATION SHOULD LEARN FROM ENACTMENT AND REPEAL OF CLAUDE PEPPER'S MEDICARE CATASTROPHIC COVERAGE ACT THAT REPEALS AND CUTS ONLY RECREATE NEED TO ENACT HEALTH CARE AGAIN, SAY WEINER AND GLADDEN
WASHINGTON, July 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National issues strategist Robert Weiner, former White House spokesman and chief of staff of the U.S. House Aging Committee and Health Subcommittee under Rep. Claude Pepper (D-Fla.), and policy and research analyst Nakia Gladden are highlighting the similarities between Rep. Pepper's Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act – a bill that was enacted into law in 1988 but repealed 16 months later – and the current 39 attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and the many "defund and destroy" outright and nickel-and-dime cutbacks. Weiner and Gladden assert, "We should learn from the repeal of Claude Pepper's Catastrophic Coverage Act and not again enter the cycle of having reform blocked by insurance industry-driven repeal. Repeals and cuts only recreate the need to enact health care again."
In an article in the Palm Beach Post today, "Resist Push to Repeal or Cripple Affordable Care Act," Weiner and Gladden say, "This was the headline across cable TV news shows on July 23: "Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, threatens a government shutdown over Obamacare." Opposition to the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") – with 39 House-passed repeals but none in the Senate — but the administration agreeing to delays and funding cuts -- are reminiscent of opposition to the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act, originally written by former Florida U.S. Senator and Congressman Claude Pepper."
Weiner and Gladden assert, "Pepper's bill was enacted in July 1988 and repealed 16 months later. We should have learned from that lesson. Instead, Affordable Care Act supporters are battling not just attempts to repeal the law but a more subtle, bit-by-bit 'defund and destroy' strategy."
The authors declare, "Pepper believed that catastrophic protection, which he introduced in 1987, was necessary to protect persons who suffered from long-term illness, treatment for which could deplete their families' savings. The bill capped out-of-pocket expenses, expanded nursing facility and hospital benefits, and offered outpatient prescription drug coverage. The bipartisan bill was signed by President Reagan. It created The Pepper Commission to address the issue of long-term care and home care. Mr. Pepper was chairman until he died in May 1989."
Weiner and Gladden say, "Health care lobbyists and insurance companies put their PR machines in motion to repeal the law. They organized hundreds of protests and bombarded members of Congress with irate mailers. As now, they converted seniors' support to opposition. Seniors were told they were paying too much, and they mobilized. The pressure drove Congress to repeal the bill on Nov. 22, 1989."
They state, "Fast-forward to Obamacare. The health industry is conducting a similar lobbying campaign, and has targeted seniors to repeal or defund the law."
They remind the public that, "Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sarah Palin first pushed the notion that the bill would create 'death panels' for senior citizens, to determine if they were too old or too at-risk to receive benefits, ignoring that insurance companies do exactly that. Claiming, 'We don't want government in our health care,' opposition leaders forgot to tell seniors that's what Medicare is, and seniors love it. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tex., stated, 'How much more socialist can you get than a government telling everybody what they can do?'"
Weiner and Gladden explain, "Whether out of common sense or a desire for money, some former opponents have come around. Rick Scott became one of seven Republican governors to favor the law's Medicaid expansion, saying, 'While the federal government is committed to paying 100 percent of the cost, I cannot, in good conscience, deny Floridians that need it access to health care.'"
They cite as another example that "Florida's 22nd congressional district, which includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties and is represented by Democrat Lois Frankel, has 147,000 residents who lack health care insurance but are now eligible for it. According to Rep. Frankel, 'The Obamacare plan is going to take 33 million (uninsured) people and put them into the insurance market' across the nation."
Weiner and Gladden contend, "Supporters need to remain firm. In December, as part of the 'fiscal cliff' deal, the administration agreed to take out the CLASS Act, which provided long-term care insurance benefits to employees: Mr. Pepper's dream. Last month, President Obama delayed the Obamacare employer mandate. Republicans earlier required the administration to bar educational funding for the bill, forcing Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius to do outside fund-raising to inform people they are eligible. Twenty-four Republican governors are refusing to authorize the law's optional insurance exchanges or Medicaid expansion – denying any coverage to over 15 million Americans."
The authors point out, "Last week, President Obama re-launched an effort to keep the law in place, and stated that it helps to 'deliver more choices, better benefits, a check on rising costs, and higher quality care. We're already seeing those effects take place.' The law has already put millions of young people on parents' plans, covered patients with pre-existing conditions and given families insurance rebates from overcharges."
Weiner and Gladden conclude, "It is a myth to say we have the best health care. The U.S. spends almost twice as much as the rest of the world while ranking 51st in life expectancy and 52nd in infant mortality, according to the CIA World Factbook. If we ever want to catch up, it's important that we learn from the repeal of Claude Pepper's Catastrophic Coverage Act and not have reform blocked by insurance industry-driven repeal."
Robert Weiner was a White House spokesman and Chief of Staff for Rep. Claude Pepper's House Aging Committee and Health Subcommittee. Nakia Gladden is policy and research analyst for Solutions for Change. | {
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Jackass, TheDudesons, America’s Funniest Home Videos. Normal people get paid every day by TV networks wanting to get a hold of stunts, pranks and home videos that tickle your funny bone. Question is, how do these non celebrity everyday people form relationships with the TV execs and what exactly are those execs looking for? I had the opportunity of interviewing some key people in the world of video licensing to explore how the industry works.
Making TV shows using home videos is one of the cheapest types of shows to make so it is very sexy to the networks as their chances to gain a higher return on investment increase with the lower overhead. In 2007 there was a huge surge of home video clips airing on TV along with docu-style shows, aka reality TV, eventually taking over the airways and knocking out professional actors one by one. Networks are constantly looking for new material and are spread thin when having to scour the internet sea to find these tiny gems.
Teresa Tubera has worked as a show clips producer for huge networks such as TRU, TMC and MTV. Her job has been to find great home videos to air on television. In her search for content Teresa discovered a company called JukinVideo, founded by Jonathan Skogmo. “JukinVideo and businesses like JukinVideo have changed the industry and made my life a lot easier. For producers every season we’re looking for 5000 clips and individual material. It’s completely changed the business so now we can have a library. So we can say we are looking for Jack Ass stuff now and JukinVideo can send me 20 clips. It’s made my life easier and made the process faster.”
Videos also need to be licensed for TV shows to safely use the footage as the network needs “worldwide all media perpetuity” rights so that it can air indefinitely and globally, anywhere, and without further consent. Getting a license is covering the network legally. Additionally networks need personal releases so that the network has everyone in the clips permission, if someone extra in the video doesn’t want to be on TV they can be blurred. So a video licensing company becomes the middle man between the people who made the video and the TV producers. They work to find great videos and form relationships with the content creators so when the TV producers are ready they have a one stop shop to go to for material to use on their TV show. If someone has the right clip JukinVideo and companies like it can sell it to 10 different shows. One girl was filming herself talk backwards and tons of people wanted to have her on their shows so every time that clip was aired she got a licensing fee.
In regards to income , Teresa says for most people, “It’s a good college part time job, not pizza money, but if they were dedicated and had the right representation it’s a side hustle. People who do make insane amounts of money, like ‘DavidAfterDentist’, are super lucky.”
Glen Wacker of WillIMakeIt.com, is a content creator utilizing video licensing to turn his weekend hobby into a full time revenue stream. He calls himself, “the Jackass of cars.” People donate really good cars that just need some mechanical loving like Lexus, Mercedes, Jaguars. Glenn and his father fix it, drive it around for a couple months then destroy it. He says, “We’re red neck top gear.” For instance he has tested how a car can run with soup in the engine. At first he was surprised he got paid for one of his clips as he was just doing it for fun. He said, “ I didn’t expect it to become what it has become now.”
Here are the types of homemade content TV networks are looking for; stunts and pranks (!!keep in mind nobody wants to buy clips where someone would intentionally hurt themselves, so keep it safe!!), cute baby clips, sports mishaps (again, has to happen naturally), elderly people and pets
*the Girl who Gets it Done* Espree created WeAreLATech which unites LA Tech founders, investors, engineers and creatives via incredible offline activities, the 1st LA Tech podcast "WeAreLATech" featuring LA Startups fueling this city to become a top destination for tech and innovation and a calendar of all the Los Angeles tech events (updated weekly) which can be found both via WeAreLATech mobile app. Additionally she produces and hosts the #womenintech Podcast and "Hello Customer" podcast.
In addition to being a contributing journalist and panel moderator for TechZulu she has provided seminars in entrepreneurship and technology to many corporations and universities including CBS, SXSW, Disney and USC Executive MBA. On her blog, SaveBusinessTime.com, she enjoys curating and reviewing the best Productivity Tools for Startups | {
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Commentary: Black GOP can learn from old South
8:48 AM,
Mar. 24, 2014
Written by
Charles McKinney
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Black Republicans, today and throughout U.S. history, have joined the struggle for the soul of the party, and its current leadership might learn a few lessons from George Washington Lee and the American South in the early 1960s.
This was a time when Republican conservatives began successfully wooing Southern Democrats, who were increasingly discontented with federal Democratic involvement in the civil rights movement. Lee, a political operative and activist from Memphis, embodied the struggle of black Republicans to maintain their foothold in a party that ... | {
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Cabinet organizers – Cabinets are a popular choice for home organization and can be used in any room in your home. If you do not have customized cabinets in your home, there is a good chance that your cabinets are not ideal for the items you need to store. Cabinets usually ...
Modern computer desk – Most standard desktops have been decidedly outdated and inconvenient. Hardly enough space for anything other than home computers. Corner computer desk solve this problem by providing double surface space while utilizing space that otherwise is not uti...
Curved Sectionals – Possessing a couch professionally upholstered isn’t inexpensive, but labor accounts for the majority of the price tag. A fainting couch is a sort of sofa or couch. Otherwise, you’ll have a lovely, but uncomfortable new couch. The Tried and Tr... | {
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DIY - Homemade Bubbly Cocktails
This time of year sparkling wine and champagne are in high demand. We love to toast with champagne and we love to mix it up too. Light and fruity wine cocktails are the perfect complement to any celebration. When you have some bubbles, a bit of spice, and some succulent fruit, you can't go wrong.
How to choose good wines to use in cocktails?
Look for sweet wines that can combine well with spice and fruit for complexity, and bubbles, which aerate the wine for a sparkling fizz that is festive and fun. These wines are sturdy enough to stand up to ice, and the preparations are simple enough to whip up for a crowd. L’Chaim!!
Sparkling Sangria
A bottle of Jeunesse Cabernet Sauvignon poured into a pretty pitcher is the start of a fruity batch of this Sparkling Sangria. The bright wine with its berry and floral fragrances combine well with all kinds of fruits. The dried apricots, plums, and apples complement and suggest a Middle Eastern flavor profile; adding the spice and bubbles of Ginger Ale contribute the “wow” factor.
Passion Fruit and Ginger Cocktail
Morad Vineyard’s fruity wine distilled in Israel from passion fruit is a newcomer to the party. Light and sweet, it is great on its own, but mixed with ginger and vodka in this cocktail, it makes the party.
Sparkling Cocktail
Bartenura makes its fruity sparkling Moscato and Rose in the Monferrato hills in the south of the province of Asti, Italy. The bold bubbles and natural sweetness makes for a great cocktail mixer with any kind of fruit. Chill the wine well in advance and feel free to substitute with any juice you fancy.
As seen in Joy of Kosher with Jamie Geller Magazine (February/March 2013) - Subscribe Now | {
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The Stik
The Stik Pro
The Stik Extreme
Jay Dyer
JMB Precision is extremely proud to announce the addition of Jay Dyer to its staff of certified athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches.
Jay believes "The Stiks" are an invaluable tool to be used by athletes of any age or either sex who participate in any sport in which the elbows, arms, wrists, hands, and fingers are used. A few minutes a day will take your game to another level.
Jay also uses "The Stiks" to help people of all ages and either sex who are suffering with Arthritis, tennis/golfers elbow or are in rehabilitation/therapy after breaks, sprains or trauma to the elbows, arms, wrists, hands or fingers.
Jay joins Jim McCrossin, the head trainer and strength and conditioning coach of The Philadelphia Flyers professional ice hockey team. Jim is recognized as one of the premier head trainers and strength and conditioning coaches in all of collegiate and professional sports. | {
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Spacious 5 bedroom villas in Kayalar village of north Cyprus offering ultimate privacy, breathtaking sea views, very large private garden and tranquil location. The villas are finished to a high stand...
This superb sea front property is located in one of the most beautiful areas along the Kayalar coastline. This wonderful home has one of the most amazing views on the island, is built to highest speci... | {
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Implementation of the carbon footprint indicator in the network of Agro-environmental District Offices
Status:
Finalized
Solution:
CO2
Client:
Government of Aragon
Dates:
2017
Following the line of work that the Government of Aragon has been developing in recent years in terms of climate change and, in particular, carbon footprint, this project aims to calculate the carbon footprint of the network of District Offices Agro-environmental (OCA for its acronym in Spanish) of the Government of Aragon and implement this indicator for its proper management in the future.
For this purpose, in this project the carbon footprint of the office network was calculated, a strategy for reducing GHG emissions was drawn up and, finally, the footprint was integrated into the Registry of the Spanish Office of Climate Change. | {
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Bloomberg aims to help the young black and Latino men he has been throwing in jail for a decade
Just how big is the force of School Safety Agents? If they made up a stand-alone police department, Lieberman says, they'd comprise "the fifth-largest in the nation . . . There are more School Safety Agents than there are cops on the streets of Baltimore, Newark, Detroit, Boston, [or] Washington, D.C."
To put in perspective how absurd their power is, how zero tolerance can go awry, and how out-of-touch the mayor is regarding the effect this has on boys of color, Lieberman tells the story of a student named Biko Edwards.
Biko was a student at Samuel J. Tilden High School, which Lieberman characterizes as "the worst school on the list. It was an educational disaster."
Drug Policy Alliance and Harry Levine/marijuana-arrests.com
Bloombergs annual average of low-level pot arrests is greater than all of Kochs, Dinkinss, and the first two years of Giulianiscombined.
"Biko and his mom came in because he was beaten and arrested for being late to class," Lieberman says. "He was staying late to talk to his math teacher, and he didn't get a pass, and he was running to chem lab. And he got nabbed, beat up, Maced," by a School Safety Agent, Lieberman describes. "He was arrested, sent to central booking, and then suspended for four days. And his grades went from decent to plummet."
Lieberman says she found out Biko was a good soccer player, and said to him: "'Look, how do you feel about this school? Are you comfortable going back to school?' And he said, 'I'm scared.' And we arranged for him to look at other schools, and he ultimately transferred to MLK, which has the premier soccer team in the city."
Biko, she says, "was a star player on the team. He's in college now . . . and he played on the farm team for the MetroStars," the New York region's professional soccer club (now the Metro Red Bulls).
While still in high school, Biko had the chance to go to Gracie Mansion the year MLK won the championships.
There's a picture of the team posing with the mayor there. Bloomberg is kneeling, surrounded by handsome young black and brown boys. He grins awkwardly like Daddy Warbucks, an oblivious great white hope enveloped by people he wouldn't normally hang with (but whom his white man's burden would, years later, compel him to aid).
And standing right next to him, smiling just as awkwardly, is Biko.
"The mayor has no idea that his school 'safety' policies put this kid in jail overnight and left him battered and forced out of his high school," Lieberman says quietly.
There is a lot exciting in the Young Men's Initiative. But judging from what it leaves out, it seems that Bloomberg is still just as oblivious about how his policies harm the very population he now wants to help as he was when he was grinning next to Biko.
As always, the problem in this society is the SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW by white police. If we are to have racial harmony in this society this problem needs to be stopped by police, prosecutors, judges, and politicians. This notwithstanding the idiocies of the Fox network which continues to insist that the only form of racism in America is reverse racism.
If you think Bloomberg's sudden philanthropy has nothing to do with a desire to stay in the political spotlight, you need to stop smoking weed yourself. Speaking of breaking the law, having screwed NYC into three terms as mayor, Bloomberg has set his political sights higher, and he knows he needs to build a base of goodwill among black and brown voters. So he's attacking from two sides: disenfranchising as many black people as possible with felony convictions, while simultaneously promoting himself as a good guy with his very public charity.
If Bloomberg was soooo concerned with the plight of black men, you would think he would start by paying Dennis Walcott the same salary he paid Walcott's unqualified predecessor.
Please take a moment to follow this link and sign the petition which requests that all those arrested for marijuana only related offenses to be granted a full pardon. In addition to releasing those currently incarcerated, this would also reinstate the rights lost by those with previous convictions, such as the right to vote. Here's the link: http://wh.gov/gRZ.
Please take a moment to follow this link and sign the petition which requests that all those arrested for marijuana only related offenses to be granted a full pardon. In addition to releasing those currently incarcerated, this would also reinstate the rights lost by those with previous convictions, such as the right to vote. Here's the link: http://wh.gov/gRZ.
At first, the self-congratulatory rollout of this program made me angry because Bloomberg refuses to raise taxes on his fellow millionaires (what rich guy wants to make an anonymous donation?) and would rather have a "public-private partnership" where all the rich donors can have their name on a stop-and-repeat. Now I'm angry about it for a whole bunch of other reasons. | {
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hob. There is a vice, that most I do abhor, And most desire should meet the blow of justice; For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am At war 'twixt will and will not.
Ang. Well; the matter?
Isab. I have a brother is condemned to die: I do beseech you, let it be his fault,"1And not my brother.
Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! Why, every fault's condemned, ere it be done: Mine were the very cipher of a function, To fine the faults, whose fine stands in record,"And let go by the actor.
Isab. O just, but severe law! Must he needs die?
Ang. Maiden, no remedy.
Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither Heaven nor man grieve at the mercy.
Ang. I will not do't.
Isab. But can you, if you would?
Ang. Look! what I will not, that I cannot do.
Isab. But might you do't, and do the world no wrong If so your heart were touched with that remorse As mine is to him 1
Ang. He's sentenced; 't is too late.
Isab. Too late? why, no: I,'that do speak a word, May call it back again. Well, believe this: No ceremony that to great ones 'longs,141Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe, Become them with one-half so good a grace As mercy does. If he had been as you, And you as he, you would have slipt like him; But he, like you, would not have been so stern.
Aug. Pray you, begone.
Isab. I would to Heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel should it then be thus?
No! 1 would tell what't were to bo a judge, And what a prisoner.
Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words.
Isat Alas! alas! "Why, all the souls that were were forfeit once; And He that might the 'vantage best have took Found out the remedy! How would you be, If He, which is the top of judgment, should But judge you as you are? O, think on that, And mercy then will breathe within your lips, Like man new made.
Ang. Be you content, fair maid; It is the law, not I, condemns your brother: Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son, It should be thus with him ; — he must die to-morrow.
Isab. To-morrow 1 O, that's sudden! Spare him, spare him He's not prepared for death! Even for our kitchens We kill the fowl of season: shall we serve Heaven With less respect than we do minister To our gross selves? Good, good, my lord, bethink you: Who is it that hath died for this offence? There's many have committed it.
Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath sleot: Those many had not dared to do that evil, If the first man that did the edict infringe Had answered for his deed: now, 't is awake; Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet, Looks in a glass ," that shows what future evils (Either now, or by remissness new-conceived, And so in progress to be hatched and born), Are now to have no successive" degrees, But, where they live, to end.
Isab. Yet show some pity!
Ang. I show it most of all when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know, Which a dismissed offence would after gall; And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. Be satisfied: Your brother dies to-morrow; be content.
Isab. So you must be the first that gives this sentence, - And he, that suffers! O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant. —Could great men thunder As Jove" himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet, For every pelting," petty officer
Would use his heaven for thunder; nothing but thunder Merciful Heaveu!
Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak, Than the soft myrfle: — But man, proud man!
Drest in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he 's most assured, —
His glassy essence, — like an angry ape,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high Heaven
As make the angels weep.
We cannot weigh our brother with ourself:
Great men may jest with saints: 't is wit in them
But, in the less, foul profanation.
That in the captain's but a choleric word,
Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.
Ang. Why do you put these sayings upon me?
Isab. Because authority, though it err like others, Uath yet a kind of medicine in itself. Go to your bosom:
Isab. Ay, with such gifts that heaven shall share with you. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, Or stones, whose rates are either rich or poor, As fancy values them: but with true prayers, That shall be up at heaven, and enter there, Ere sunrise; prayers from preserved souls, From fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal.
Ang. Well; come to me To-morrow.
Isab. Heaven keep your honor safe!
Ang. Amen. Shakspearb.
CLI. — THE MIND ITS OWN EDUCATOR.
1. Knowledge and virtue, or, in other words, intellectual and moral improvement, are mainly the mind's own work. The ordinary processes of direct instruction are, at best, but means, facilities, and aids, — of immense importance, it is true, but which presuppose in the mind to which they are applied an active, self moving cooperation. None can carry us up the hill of learning It must be done, if done, by the strain upon our own sinews by the wrenching of our »wn muscles, by the indoroitable resolution jf our own wills. Without this effort on our parte, all the means of instruction which this and all other ages have devised are vain, worse than vain.
2. There is a vague notion widely prevalent that schools and ampler seminaries are able, by a power inherent in themselves, to fill the mind with learning; or that it is to be received inertly, like the influences of the atmosphere, by a mere residence at the places of instruction. But this is a sad mistake. Something, in this way, doubtless, may be effected. Something may be thus
inspiration of the place. Intercourse, conversation, sympathy with his companions, will, without much voluntary effort on his part, convey some information, and mould, in some degree, the habits of his mind. But this, admitting it in its full extent, amounts to but very little. It is, moreover, too vague to be of any practical value.
3. The truth, after all, is, that the most elaborate and manifold apparatus of instruction can impart nothing of importance to the passive and inert mind. It is almost as unavailing as the warmth and light of the sun, and all the sweet influences of the heavens, shed upon the desert sands. "The schoolmaster," we are told by one, who, be it observed, is himself a prodigy of selfeducation, "the schoolmaster is abroad." The word has been caught up by the nations as prophetical of mighty changes. But the schoolmaster is abroad to little purpose, unless his pupils stand ready in their places to receive him with open and active minds, and to labor with him for their own benefit.
4. If all the means of education which are scattered over the world, and if all the philosophers and teachers of ancient and modern times, were to be collected together, and made to bring their combined efforts to bear upon an individual, all they could do would be to afford the opportunity of improvement. They could not give him .a single valuable thought independently of his own exertion. All that could be accomplished must still be done within the little compass of his own mind; and they could not approach this by a hair's breadth nearer than access was made for them by his own cooperation. Nothing short of a miracle can teach a man anything independently of this. All that he learns is effected by self-discipline, and self-discipline is the mind's own work. We all are, under God, intellectually, the makers of ourselves.
5. Virtue, religion, as well as knowledge, tnust also be mainlv the mind's own work. Here, too, external means arc useless, without the earnest cooperation of the individual. The usual
means of religious improvement, public r^agious instruction, public worship, the solemn and tender rites of our religion, seasons of abstraction from ordinary cares for self-intercourse, and for communion of the soul with God, are valuable, most valuable, — valuable very far beyond the common estimate that is made of them, — so valuable, that they are the principal head-springs of public morals, and possess a preventive and san'ative" influence over public sentiment, which is more effective in preserving good order, good institutions, civil rights, and private welfare, than any other influences which are brought to bear upon the community.
6. But how and why are they thus valuable? Simply and only as means and aids of personal exertion; simply and only by being brought into contact with the minds and hearts of men. Unless this is done, religious meetings and services and rites are a mockery. Worse, even, than this; they are a perversion of those overtures of mercy, and those means of improvement, which a gracious God has vouchsafed, to raise us from a mere earthly life, and make us partakers of a divine nature. What is prayer to him who does not pray? What is religious instruction to the vain, the frivolous, the indifferent, the preoccupied and foreclosed mind? What is the keeping of holy time to him, who, while he is ostensibly present at places of social worship, has yet left his thoughts and affections behind, to hold companionship with his business or his pleasures? Alas ! nothing. It is but as the vain oblations, the pageantry, and sacrifices of a darker age, without the excuse of ignorance to be pleaded in palliation. Under God, and by those spiri tual aids which are ever vouchsafed in exact proportion to our endeavors to obtain them (how gracious and glorious is this truth !), we are morally and religiously, as well as intellectually, the makers of ourselves.
FROM THE FRENCH OF DEGERANDO
CLII. — FULTON'S FIRST STEAMBOAT.
1. It was in reference to the astonishing impulse given to mechanical pursuits, that Dr. Darwin, more than forty years ago, broke out in strains equally remarkable for their poetical enthusiasm and prophetic truth, and predicted the future triumph of the steam-engine: | {
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Streptavidin-based amplification techniques are widely used in flow cytometry, fluorescent imaging, western blotting, and microplate-based detection for increased signal output and greater sensitivity. Fluorescent conjugates of streptavidin are used to detect biotinylated biomolecules such as primary and secondary antibodies, ligands and toxins, or DNA probes for in situ hybridization or bead-based detection. Enzyme conjugates of streptavidin, such as HRP and AP, are commonly used in western blotting, ELISA, and in situ hybridization imaging applications. Streptavidin-conjugated magnetic beads and resins can be used to isolate proteins, cells, and DNA, or they can be used in immunoassays or bio-panning.
Our family of biotin-binding proteins includes streptavidin, avidin, and NeutrAvidin® protein. Each protein binds four biotins per molecule with high affinity and selectivity.
Streptavidin is most commonly used—it is non-glycosylated and exhibits low levels of nonspecific binding.
Avidin is a highly cationic glycoprotein with an isoelectric point of about 10.5—it can cause nonspecific background staining in some applications due to its positively charged residues and oligosaccharide components.
NeutrAvidin® protein has been processed to remove the carbohydrate and lower its isoelectric point, resulting reduced nonspecific background staining.
Biotinylation reagents provide the "tag" that transforms the poorly detectable molecules into probes that can be recognized by a labeled detection reagent or an affinity-capture matrix. Once tagged with biotin or a hapten, a molecule of interest—such as an antibody, lectin, drug, polynucleotide, polysaccharide, or receptor ligand—can be used to probe complex solutions, cells, and tissues, as well as protein and nucleic acid blots and arrays. We offer a broad range of products for labeling your molecules or biomolecules that are already labeled with biotin as well as kits to label proteins and antibodies.
Partner with us to scale-up your process or product development pipeline with bulk quantities of high-quality immunoassay reagents and biochemicals. We offer a variety of compounds, devices, and resins for your large-scale applications.
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Leading industrial companies agree upon a built-up plan for a nationwide infrastructure
Significant expansion of hydrogen fuelling stations network by the end of 2011
Important milestone on the way to emission-free mobility
Leading vehicle manufacturers pursue the development and commercialisation of electric vehicles with fuel cell. Commercialisation with several hundred thousand units anticipated from 2015 onwards
Berlin, 10 September 2009 - Today leading industrial companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Berlin with the participation of the German Minister of Transport, Wolfgang Tiefensee. The agreement intends the evaluation of the setup of a hydrogen infrastructure in Germany so as to promote serial production of electric vehicles with fuel cell. This marks a major step towards the commercialisation of such locally emission-free vehicles. The partners of the initiative "H2 Mobility" are Linde, Daimler, EnBW, OMV, Shell, Total, Vattenfall and the NOW GmbH National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology. Thereby the co-operation is also open for further partners interested in the project.
In recent years significant progress has been made in Germany with the development of hydrogen based technologies in the mobility sector, identifying the country as a potential start-market in the context of a broader European perspective. This has been made possible by the continuous commitment of a significant number of industrial stakeholders and comprehensive support by the German government with the common aim of preparing for the commercialisation of electric vehicles with fuel cell and embedding hydrogen- and fuel cell technologies in the future powertrain portfolio. Current demonstration projects like the Clean Energy Partnership involving fuel retail companies, utility providers and engineering companies have shown that the production, storage, transportation and deployment of efficient equipment for compressed gaseous hydrogen are technically feasible. Moreover, leading automobile manufacturers recently announced a joint statement on the development and market introduction of electric vehicles with fuel cell. From 2015 onwards they anticipate several hundred thousand units over life cycle on a worldwide basis. The MoU goes back to a joint initiative by Daimler and Linde aimed at providing sufficient hydrogen fuelling station infrastructure, which is the key to establishing electric vehicles with fuel cell on the market.
The MoU comprises two phases. Phase One includes the evaluation of options for an area-wide roll-out of hydrogen fuelling stations in Germany and the definition of a joint business plan agreement including an analysis of possible public support measures. In Phase One partners intend to leverage plans to install new hydrogen fuelling stations by 2011. This will take place within the framework of the German economic stimulus package (Konjunkturpaket II) and other national and state programmes to jointly address standardisation and cost reduction issues.
Subject to the positive and satisfactory outcome of such a business case agreement the partners will implement the corresponding action plan in Phase Two. The nation-wide roll-out of hydrogen fuelling stations will be continued, supporting the introduction of series produced hydrogen powered vehicles in Germany around 2015.
Wolfgang Tiefensee, Minister for Transportation, Building and Urban Affairs:
"Today, after more than 100 years of combustion engines and the dominance of oil, we are facing a new technological era in the transport sector. Germany, with its excellent ideas from all over the country, is to become the market leader for modern drive technologies. This will secure and create new employment in the markets of the future. Our aim is to continue consistent and systematic promotion of electromobility based on batteries and fuel cells. Today we can see that Germany is setting the pace when it comes to hydrogen and fuel cell technology. We are aiming at establishing the nation-wide supply with hydrogen in Germany at around 2015 in order to support the serial-production of fuel cell vehicles."
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO Daimler AG and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars:
"The only tailpipe emission from fuel cell vehicles is water vapor. That's good for the environment and for people - and it's the reason why we want to commercialise this technology as soon as possible. But the widespread adoption of fuel cells will only occur when drivers can readily refuel with hydrogen. To accomplish that end, we're working together with oil companies, energy providers and public policy makers to help drive the development of the necessary infrastructure."
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Reitzle, CEO Linde AG:
"Our jointly expressed commitment to hydrogen-based mobility sets the course for a low-emission and environmentally friendly future. We see ourselves as pioneers in the field of hydrogen technology and will do everything we can to live up to our aspirations with our accomplishments in the areas of hydrogen production, storage, distribution and fuelling technology."
Dr. Klaus Bonhoff, Managing Director (Chair) NOW GmbH Nationale Organisation Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellentechnologie:
"This commitment of market leading companies is a cornerstone for sustainable mobility in the future. Leveraging the ongoing NIP this MoU is the basis for a considerable contribution of industry partners and the federal government paving the way for the commercialisation of hydrogen vehicles."
Hans-Peter Villis, CEO EnBW AG:
"Regardless of whether vehicles are refuelled with hydrogen or electricity, it remains a fact that these innovative drive technologies will only be sustainable with a reliable infrastructure and only with CO2-free electricity for hydrogen production or for recharging batteries. EnBW will support both technologies - with its technological know-how in the power generation field and its large proportion of CO2-free electricity."
Dr. Dieter Tuppinger, Managing Director OMV Refining and Marketing GmbH Deutschland GmbH:
"In its role as supplier, OMV sees an ongoing responsibility to make future fuels available close to the customer in response to future changes. For example, additional hydrogen fuelling stations in the decades ahead can support the development and series production of competitive vehicles with fuel cell technology - for more efficient mobility without local emissions."
Dr. Peter Blauwhoff, Chairman of Management Board of Deutsche Shell Holding:
"The tasks facing us can only be mastered by cooperation between the industries involved and with support from governments. The agreement signed today leaves the door open for new partners. And that is essential in view of the challenges that still need to be tackled. It thus marks an important step towards solving the problems of establishing a hydrogen infrastructure in Germany."
Michel Mallet, Managing Director, Total Deutschland GmbH:
"Our field experience gained over the years in siting Hydrogen Refuelling Stations in Germany has allowed us to demonstrate that hydrogen based technologies may provide a sound answer to clean mobility. A significant leapfrog for both hydrogen vehicles & infrastructure deployments is now required, and this agreement intends to achieve this ambitious target."
Udo Bekker, Member of the Board, Vattenfall AG:
"With its climate protection strategy 'Making Electricity Clean', Vattenfall is pressing ahead with the expansion of environmentally sound individual mobility. By means of hydrogen produced using power from renewable energy sources, we will supply a low-emission fuel and ensure 'green' mobility. In Hamburg we are already putting this into practice: by the end of this year we will start work there on the construction of Europe's biggest hydrogen filling station."
The hydrogen fuelling station infrastructure in Germany
The setup of a public hydrogen infrastructure is crucial for the successful introduction of fuel cell vehicles. First hydrogen centres have been established in urban agglomerations such as Berlin and Hamburg. Seven of the current thirty hydrogen fuelling stations in Germany are integrated into public gas stations. Germany thereby has a leading position regarding the hydrogen infrastructure in Europe. Already five to ten hydrogen fuelling stations can secure a first supply in a major city. By connecting those urban agglomerations -such as Berlin and Hamburg - with supply corridors on main arteries, the essential prerequisites for a nationwide development are created.
The fuel cell fleet
A fleet of 40 hydrogen vehicles is part of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) in the key regions Berlin and Hamburg. The CEP is aiming to demonstrate the suitability for daily use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel for vehicles and to test the infrastructure of hydrogen fuelling stations. Daimler already presented the first fuel cell vehicle in 1994. Since then the company invested more than one billion Euros into the development of fuel cells. With more than 100 test vehicles and over 4.5 million kilometres of test runs, the automotive manufacturer from Stuttgart holds one of the largest fuel cell vehicle fleets of passenger cars and buses worldwide. The small series production of the B-Class F-CELL will start at the end of 2009. The first prototype of the new generation of fuel cell buses will also be presented this year.
To enhance your user experience and to deliver our online services, this website uses cookies for reasons of functionality, comfort and statistics. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. | {
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AGN Webinar: Annual Fund Leadership Gift Strategy
Overview
In almost any fundraising effort, the majority of the money raised will come from a few top donors. Annual Funds are no exception. Building a strong leadership giving program for your Annual Fund will not only help to achieve fundraising success today, but it will help to create a pipeline of future major gifts that will benefit your institution for years to come.
Webinar presented by Christy Moss
Senior Director of Strategic Engagement, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Who Should Attend
Annual giving and advancement services professionals, as well as others interested in learning more about this topic.
Annual Fund Leadership Gift Strategy - Credit Card
Annual Fund Leadership Gift Strategy - Check
Our Vision
Our vision is to attract broad resources that transform the USM and its institutions, create a network of advocates to embrace the USM’s role as an educator and economic engine, and to grow a long-term, sustainable culture of philanthropy across the University System of Maryland. | {
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Description
This charming 3 bedroom home sits on 3 large fenced in corner lots. The location is ideal! This home has been very well maintained with 1 car attached garage anda 2 car detached garage. If move in ready is what you want, this is the one! | {
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Sights, sounds and smells from Bangalore
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Another boycott of autos brewing
Another boycott of autos brewingToday’s strike by autowallahs has triggered angry responses from commuters, with several calling for a mass boycott of autosNeethu.Reghukumar @timesgroup.com
With the city’s autowallahs going off the roads on Tuesday — this time, it is to press their demands for subsidies to buy digital meters and financial aid to purchase four-stroke autos — the patience of Bangaloreans is wearing thin. There is a growing opinion that commuters should once again boycott autos on Wednesday — as they did on Aug 12 — to register their protest against tampered meters and the rude behaviour of many auto drivers. A Bangalore Mirror reader, D Hemachandra Babu, has written asking people to boycott autos on Wednesday. He said,”By going on a strike on Tuesday, the auto drivers seem to have taken Bangaloreans for granted. They are assuming that they can strike at will. I request Bangaloreans to teach the auto drivers a lesson by boycotting autos on Wednesday, Sept 8, so that they incur a loss of income for one more day. Hope the public co-operates.” Others are of a similar opinion. M V Nahusha Raj, honorary director, Bangalore Kidney Foundation, said, “Auto drivers in Bangalore go on strike on flimsy g r o u n d s . Fortunately, the city’s public transport system is a good standby on such occasions. Once the Metro Rail starts, demand for autos will dwindle. By resorting to such strikes, auto drivers are losing whatever goodwill they have. It will send the right message if people boycott them for two days.” Nahusha suggested that on the lines of the monthly Bus Day, citizens should boycott autos for two days in a month. Shalini Majumdar, an IT professional, said, “Every time they keep increasing the fare and the government listens to them. We commuters have no say in the matter. Most of them are so rude. I have decided not to take an auto on Tuesday and Wednesday.” Shruthi, a junior designer with Big Design, said,”I feel we should boycott them on Wednesday. These autowallas charge one and a half times the fare even during the daytime. They concoct all kinds of excuses to extract more money from commuters. They should be taught a lesson.” Speaking for the auto drivers, Srinivas Murthy, vice-president of the CITU-affiliated autorickshaw drivers’ union, said, “We suspect the boycott is being provoked by some officials or individuals. No one is really against the service provided by autos. We know there is a problem with drivers’ behaviour and meters, and we are working to improve this. We too will take up checking of meters.”
BDA’s ‘dirty’ alternative to fill lakes
BDA’s ‘dirty’ alternative to fill lakesCommissioner moots filling up of rejuvenated lakes with treated sewage water before CM can be invited for their inaugurationNiranjan.Kaggere @timesgroup.com
WITH the monsoon coming to a close, the Bangalore Development Authority has come up with a ‘novel idea’ for refilling the 13 lakes that it has rejuvenated. It involves filling them up with ‘sewage water’. The BDA, which took up lakes’ rejuvenation work at a cost of Rs 100 crore, plans to refill them with treated sewage water as the rainfall has been inadequate and the authority began cleaning up works three months late. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had kicked off the rejuvenation work on Ullal lake, one of the lakes selected for the clean-up operation, on May 27, 2009. During inauguration, he had said, “I assure you that by end of 12 months, I will be back to inaugurate the lake for public use.” The BDA is trying hard to refill the lakes before Yeddyurappa can be invited for the inauguration. Hence, it is looking at Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for help (refilling the lakes). Though a few lakes have received good spells of rains, the water has not been enough to fill them. When asked about the mammoth task of refilling the tanks in view of the monsoon coming to a close, BDA Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena said, “If we don’t get sufficient rains, we can get it from BWSSB. There’s a lot of sewerage and it can be treated and released into these tanks. We are in talks with the BWSSB and hopeful of getting sufficient amount of water.” The BDA is yet to complete the rejuvenation work. Ninety per cent of the work has been completed, while some minor works - fencing, laying of pavements for walkers and planting of saplings - still remain. Meena says these would be completed at the earliest. Water-logging was common in the city during rains. But the BDA promises that it would not happen again. “One of the reasons for not getting sufficient water in these lakes is because many areas become waterlogged during the rains. We are studying the pattern of water flow and trying to make sure the water collected in the catchment areas reach the lakes. The task will be outsourced to an independent agency,” said Meena. CARETAKERS FOR LAKES After the rejuvenation, the BDA has to hand over the lakes to the BBMP for maintenance. However, the handover is unlikely to happen for the next one year. “We cannot tell when we will hand over these lakes to the BBMP. We scaled down some of the ornamental works, thinking that it could be taken up at a later stage. Within a year, we will complete that and till then, we will maintain the tanks. But we will discuss this matter with the BBMP,” he said. The commissioner also said the locals and villagers will be included in committees for the safe management of lakes. REVIVAL FOR 29 LAKES The BDA has been entrusted with the task of rejuvenating another 29 lakes. A decision in this regard was taken by the BBMP officials in May-June this year. “Though an official government order is yet to come, we will be taking up the survey work to prepare a detailed project report. If all goes well, in the next three months, we will commence work on all the 29 lakes,” said a top official of the Bangalore Development Authority.
Child’s play? NO WAY
Child’s play? NO WAYIT’S DIFFICULT FOR KIDS TO FIND SPACE TO PLAY. THEIR SEARCH TAKES THEM FAR AND WIDE, WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES AT TIMESSunitha Rao R | TNN
Bangalore: Who plays in BBMP’s playgrounds? Not children! Strangely, many playgrounds in the city have been converted to youth clubs, making it impossible for children below 14 years to even enter the grounds, let alone playing. College students and members of clubs use these spaces for their tournaments. Children below 14 are not allowed to join them and playing wherever they can, most often in front of their houses even as traffic flows by. What’s worse, playgrounds in many areas are encroached upon and converted for commercial purposes. “In many playgrounds, especially in Jayanagar East, there are skating clubs, basketball, athletic, gymnasium training camps. Only members are allowed there, and children of the area are left without space to play,” says B Chandrappa, former playground officer, BBMP. The BBMP’s plans to involve residents and corporators to give children back their space have remained on paper. “We’d planned to form a committee to monitor playgrounds but it’s still in the pipeline,’’ admit BBMP officials. Residents point out that local politicians support youth sports clubs and encourage them to use the playgrounds. “When we come to play with children in the Jayanagar Kittur Rani Chennamma playground beside our house, it’s usually occupied by others. Many of them aren’t even from surrounding areas. Our children end up playing in front of homes or on terraces,” said Manasa Ravi, a resident of Pipeline Road in Jayanagar East. Besides, many schools use playgrounds in their vicinity for regular physical education classes and that reduces space for games like football or cricket which children love to play with friends after school. NO BUDGETARY PROVISION BBMP’s Rs 8,488-crore budget has no funds for providing playgrounds, even in newly added wards where children have no space to play. ‘GIVE US SOME SPACE’ We’re a group of seven boys who come to Kittur Rani Chennamma Stadium thrice a week to play cricket. But every time, it’s the same problem — there’s no space left for us as there’s always some tournament or the other or practice session of adults or college students will be already playing there. After 7pm, it’s less crowded but our parents don’t like us playing there after dusk as it’s not safe. We play on roads but that is equally unsafe. There should be a separate playground, exclusively for children. —Naveen K V | CLASS 8 STUDENT, JAYANAGAR OFFICIAL LINE There are totally 154 playgrounds in the older wards maintained by BBMP. Earlier, BBMP’s education department had appointed a playground officer who would take care of all the playgrounds. Now, with decentralization in place, eight zones of BBMP (engineering department) have taken up the maintenance of playgrounds in their limits. However, BBMP is yet to make room for playgrounds in newly added wards. Wards like DJ Halli, Shakambari Nagar and Maruthi Seva Nagar have no playgrounds though they’re in the core areas.
Autos, city taxis off roads today
Autos, city taxis off roads todayTIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore: Office-goers, schoolchildren, shoppers and other commuters are best advised to make their own transport arrangements on Tuesday, as autodrivers have decided to join the all-India strike. The cause: welfare and rise in prices. The strike will be on from 6 am to 6 pm. Au t o d r ive r unions told The Times of India that they are participating in the strike to force the state government to address their demands. The unions are demanding the establishment of an autodrivers’ welfare board that will address their needs from time to time, a house for each licensed driver from the BDA or a housing cooperative society authorized by the government, public distribution system cards to enable them to buy essential goods at lower prices and action against private financiers who are charging astronomical rates of interest for loans. The drivers also want loans to enable them to convert analog meters into digital meters. Schools that depend on autos to ferry their pupils will decide on Tuesday morning whether to declare a holiday or not. The Karnataka Auto and Taxi Drivers’ and Women Welfare Association, as also the BJP-affiliated auto drivers’ association, won’t support the strike. Meru and Easy Cabs will ply to the airport as usual. Some autos, pvt taxis will ply No Holiday For Schools; BMTC To Deploy Additional Buses Bangalore: Though their demand for a hike in fares was met, autodrivers are on strike on Tuesday to draw attention to their other demands of housing, PDS and loans. “Normal protests don’t seem to move the government. We have to resort to a strike to make it respond,” M Manjunath of Adarsha Union said. He said the demands have been long pending, but no one in the government seemed to care. “How else do we tell them what we face? Else, let the government do something to reduce prices.” SOME AUTO UNIONS AGAINST STRIKE An auto union owing affiliation to the BJP said it won’t support the strike. “We were on protest very recently and most of our demands were accepted. Why should we go on protest again? Is this right? We suspect that some parties against the BJP are instigating autodrivers to strike,” a union member said. The Karnataka Auto and Taxi Drivers and Women Welfare Association will not support Tuesday’s strike. In a statement issued on Monday, they said they were satisfied with the introduction of green autorickshaws being made mandatory, one-piece glass and others. “We strongly oppose the proposed autorickshaw strike on Tuesday in the interest of the three big festivals — Ramzan, Mary’s Feast and Ganesha Chathurthi. There are possibilities of untoward incidents such as attacks on drivers, damage to vehicles of those who intend to ply, and therefore we request the police department to provide protection,” the statement said. Representatives of Lorry Owners and Agents’ Association said lorries will not participate in the strike as the state government had agreed to address their demands on sand transport and toll levy. “We will wait for another week. Then we will take a call,” a member said. SOME TAXIS ON STRIKE City taxis on radio call will participate in the strike, while private taxis will not. Taxis coming under Meru and Easy Cab will ply to the airport. MORE BMTC BUSES BMTC has said it will deploy additional buses to help commuters reach offices and business areas. “We have surplus buses. It will not be a problem to deploy them in the interest of the public,” senior BMTC officials said. SOME SCHOOLS HIT Schools which depend on autorickshaws to ferry their children may be hit. These schools are contemplating whether to declare a holiday or not, depending on the situation on Tuesday. “There is a possibility that the strike could be called off. We will decide on Tuesday morning after confirming about the strike,’’ the authorities said. But a majority of schools said they will function as usual.
Where are autos with tampered meters hiding?
Where are autos with tampered meters hiding?AKANKSHA MEHROTRADC | BENGALURU
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While commuters seem to find a number of autos with tampered meters on the roads, a recent three day drive by the transport department surprisingly came across very few such autos running in the city.Of the 2,117 autos inspected, only 10 had tampered with their meters.Considering the innumerable complaints received against autos running with faulty meters, transport officials expected to find several of them on the roads, but were taken aback to come across so few of them.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, assistant controller of the legal metrology department, M.Gopalappa said the special drive was conducted by the transport department in collaboration with his department in response to the sev eral complaints received from commuters about auto drivers trying to cheat them by manipulating their meters to show a higher fare than they should charge for the distance travelled. “But we did not come across many such autos during our inspection. Perhaps most of these autos were off the roads or the tampered meter had been calibrated back to normal,” he said, disclosing that most of the cases that were booked were against autos that had not renewed their fitness certificate.
But the transport department intends to deploy additional staff to identify
autos plying with faulty meters to make sure that none of them get away in future. "We will conduct surprise inspections until this menace is rooted out.Cases are being booked at the Nagarbhavi RTO and we are seizing all the faulty meters," Mr. Gopalappa added.The departments are also trying to find other ways of trapping auto drivers running with tampered meters They are approaching the auto unions to help them out and catch the drivers red handed. Charge sheets are being filed against the auto drivers who have tampered with their meters,
Stop the noise! Bengaluru craves the sounds of silence
Stop the noise! Bengaluru craves the sounds of silenceBengaluru,
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With the festival season around the corner, the noise levels in Bengaluru are likely to go up several decibels with loudspeakers blaring music and huge processions on the streets. Health experts warn that noise pollution is not a mere nuisance, it can result in serious health disorders, report Sanchita Sen and Madhumitha B.
The city is noisy enough with traffic, but the decibel levels are about to rise with loudspeakers blaring music and processions crowding the streets as the festival season gets underway.The city gets at least four times noisier this season, says Madhuri Gore of the Institute of Speech and Hearing, warning that while the repercussions are not immediately apparent, they are nonetheless hazardous in the long run.
Bhargavi Rao of the Environment Support Group (ESG) feels the problem is that celebrations have shifted from being simple and austere to being grand and excessively noisy today. "Festivals are not celebrated like they were some years ago. It isn't about the fun of bursting crackers anymore but more about putting up a show. People and political parties are competing with each other to see who can hold a grander celebration.
So there are more firecrackers, bigger loudspeakers and more people, all adding to the noise pollution,” she says, adding that the only way this can be curbed is to have more policemen patrolling the city to ensure that the rules are enforced. However, in her view noise pollution is high in the city all through the year and not just during the festive season. “Vehicles on roads and generators in commercial buildings are contributing hugely to the noise one has to put up with every
day,” she deplores.Health experts warn it is not enough to see noise pollution as a mere nuisance as it can have serious consequences, sometimes even leading to permanent damage to the ears. “It may be
difficult to quantify the threat from the noise that we are exposed to along with the hazardous fumes of firecrackers this season, but it is time for the health department to step in and make more of an effort to contain it," they say.Ask secretary for environ ment and ecology Kanwar Pal about what the govern ment is doing about noise pollution and he says restric tions are in place during the festive season to contain the noise levels, but it is hard to see that everyone follows them. "How does one ensure that the rules in place are enforced when the law breake ers outnumber the law e enforcers, he asks, pointing e out that while the regulations say firecrackers must not s make a sound of over 50 decibels, unless their manufacture ers toe the line, the people n cannot be held responsible for the noise they make. "The question here is one of self-regula tion and about indi viduals maintain ing some decorum and dis cipline in pub lic," he says. Anything beyond 60 decibel gets uncomfortable for the ears. As endurance levels are different, we see people come to us with different levels of the problem. Such cases are definitely increasingly during the festival season. We have time and again appealed to people to celebrate but with lesser noise.
DR SUNIL NARAYAN DUTT, senior consultant, ENT, Apollo Hospital We do not realise the effects of noise or the fact that the decibel levels are already high in the city. This leads to different degrees of stress that is vented out in different ways by different people. Studies have revealed that the lack of a goodnight's sleep during festivals can affect memory apart from hearing difficulties. Much of today's young generation suffers from hearing problems due to constant exposure to noise.
MADHURI GORE, Institute of Speech and Hearing Festivals are not celebrated in a proper manner anymore. There is no joy in bursting firecrackers.
It is just an exhibition of wealth.
Each community or political party is competing with one another to for a grand celebration. There are more fire crackers, big crowds and bigger loud speakers, all causing more and more noise pollution.
City loses its trees at high speed
City loses its trees at high speedAMIT S. UPADHYEDC | BENGALURU
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: Minsk Square is a graveyard of trees. Twisted stumps stand where once an avenue of gulmohars, jacarandas and pink tabubia bloomed. MG Road is a construction site. Now, information obtained under RTI by green activists Hasiru Usiru finds the central part of Bengaluru and its enviable green canopy will see 371 fully mature trees chopped down and another 200 pruned! This is to pave the way for a controversial addition to the IT capital's transport system -a High Speed Rail Link that stretches 34 kms from BRV grounds near Chinnaswamy stadium through the Raj Bhavan Road to Hebbal lake, home to migratory birds, when it could as well start from beyond Hebbal. As if the damage Sept. 6: As if the damage caused by the massive felling of trees at Minsk Square for the Metro project was not enough, the proposed High Speed Rail Link, which will connect the city centre to Bengaluru International Airport is expected to bring down more than 500 fully grown trees in the next few years.Apart from losing trees, there will be a huge impact on the environment in the central parts of Bengaluru.
The worst hit will be places like BRV Parade Grounds – the starting point of HSRL and Raj Bhavan Road, besides the historic Hebbal lake alongside which the high-speed lane will pass.
The information obtained by Hasiru Usiru, an NGO, after it filed an RTI on the felling of trees for the project, which was made available to Deccan Chronicle, says that 371 trees will have
to be uprooted completely while around 265 trees will have to be pruned.“So why is the government bent on spoiling the aesthetic look of central Bengaluru,” ask green activists in the city, who say a strict no-no to the project.
Already, Minsk Square has lost its charm and there are little chances of the
famous boulevard on MG Road being restored to its original glory. "The 34-km long HSRL will be an addition to Namma Metro and the proposed suburban rail system. Do we really need three rail systems for Bengaluru"? ask the activists."The detailed project report(DPR) of Metro Rail says some 700 trees will have to be felled to get the project done. Not even 40 per cent of the total project is complete and already, close to 3,000 trees have vanished from the city’s map,” said Vinay Sreenivasa, a member of Hasiru Usiru.
According to him, the 324 page DPR, prepared for HSRL, shows that no prop
er Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was done. "A project of this scale, has no mention about EIA and even an energy audit. If the train has to move at high speed, from where will the government get the required power?Moreover, the train link will run next to the sensitive Hebbal Lake which is home to several species of birds," he said. Apart from losing trees, there will be a huge impact on the environment in the central parts of Bengaluru. The worst hit will be places like BRV Parade Grounds – the starting point of HSRL and Raj Bhavan Road besides the historic Hebbal lake.
Recharging lakes can help stop flooding
Recharging lakes can help stop flooding
Staff ReporterTwelve lakes have almost been rejuvenated, say officials
A NEW LEASE OF LIFE:Of the 14 lakes given to it, the BDA has completed 90 p.c. work on 12.Bangalore: If the Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) plan to recharge the city's lakes works, it could solve the perennial problem of flooding when it rains.
The BDA, which has almost rejuvenated 12 lakes, has appointed consultants to study the feasibility of channelising rain water — that otherwise accumulates on most roads and low-lying areas — into the lakes.
Talking to presspersons here on Monday, BDA Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena said STUP Consultants had been entrusted with the project. “We are also discussing with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) how to recharge the rejuvenated lakes,” he said.
Mr. Meena asserted that the idea was to treat sewage water and channelise it into the lakes apart from letting rainwater into them. “The city receives so much of rain but we don't know where it disappears. Although some of it flows into the stormwater drains. it ultimately gets mixed with sewage,” he said.
Of the 14 lakes handed over by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to the BDA, 90 per cent of work on 12 had been completed. Work on the remaining two would start soon, he said.
More lakes
Pointing out that the BBMP had handed over 29 more lakes to the BDA for rejuvenation, Mr. Meena said detailed project reports (DPRs) on rejuvenating these water bodies were being prepared. “We will soon invite tenders for the rejuvenation and work is likely to start in three months,” he said.
The lakes would not be handed over to the BBMP soon after the rejuvenation as per the initial agreement. “After the rejuvenation, the cost of which has been scaled down from Rs. 300 crore to Rs. 100 crore, we will maintain the lakes for one year. After spending so much, we want the lakes to survive,” he said.
He added that the local residents' welfare associations and other organisations would be involved in maintaining the rejuvenated lakes.
A load of garbage is destroying us
A load of garbage is destroying us
Prahlad Rao
A city which woke up rest of India on cleanliness is still struggling to cobble a comprehensive policy on garbage disposal. Solid waste management rules were framed in 2000 after the SC intervention due to PIL filed by a member of an NGO from Bangalore. Since then the city has toyed with various schemes like supporting local initiatives of the residents welfare associations or NGOs and some hi-tech projects of the civic body. Everything that the government or the civic administration claims to have done does not provide a long term vision. During the debate in BBMP there was talk of revising garbage collection contracts. The change that was tossed around pertains to giving contracts to two or three wards instead of current eight wards per contractor. If the proposal is passed it would mean too many contractors.This step is devoid of any rationale as garbage disposal works on volumes. More the volume of collection better will be the incentive to deploy modern means like collection trucks with lids. Take a look at what has been achieved till now. For the start, there is no plan to acquire a permanent landfill. Even Mavallipura landfill is mired in controversy because of health hazards. But the solid waste management is not just about land fills, collection contracts or the recent talks of garbage cess.The garbage management starts with the households, eateries and corporate entities. It is about the culture of garbage generation at these places and its storage before disposal. The households have to develop a culture or at least a habit of generating less garbage, be it the use of tissue paper or demanding plastic bags every time one buys half a kg of sugar. The administration is supposed to educate the citizens about the way certain types of garbage pollutes the soil and water. The public should also be told to segregate (degradable and non-degradable) garbage and ensure that the segregated garbage is not mixed by the conservancy staff. The Supreme Court Committee report, which formed the basis for the court verdict, had also set timeframe for reforms in waste management. These reforms range from awareness programmes for citizens to establishment of landfills. Some of the mandated tasks were: minimization of garbage generation, reuse and recycle, collection, composting, energy recovery and disposal in safe manner. The deadlines were from six months to 36 months. Unfortunately, these recommendations remain mostly on paper as the administrations play with our lives. We also resist many ideas in reducing garbage generated in the households and the offices. And this deliberate ignorance is corroding our lives
Link the lakes through channels, say experts
Link the lakes through channels, say experts
Bosky Khanna
Even as the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) looks satisfied with its efforts to rejuvenate 12 lakes, experts are critical of the programme. They say the ideal way to go about the task is to enhance the connectivity to the lakes, as it was done earlier.The BDA dried up the lakes completely to clear the silt. Ring tank bunds were created around to give them a distinctive shape. Though the depth increased, the size of lakes shrank. Encroachments were cleared in all BDA lakes, while wetlands and water inlets had been channelled. What remained now, according to BDA officials, is fencing, afforestation, water to fill in, construction of boat jetties and construction of sewerage treatment plants in Kommaghatta and Malathahalli.But experts suggested creation of treatment plants in all the lakes. The flow of water should be well directed, keeping in mind the upstream and downstream, they felt.Hasiru Usiru member Rohan D'Souza was dissatisfied by the way Rachenahalli lake structure was designed. "The idea of feeding other water bodies by channelling the overflow has not been looked into," lamented D'Souza."Here the BDA has completely dried up the lake. This hampered the biodiversity and also had a cascading effect," said D'Souza."The BDA should ensure that the plants in the wetlands are cut once in three months so that the quality of water remains good. Charcoal and carbon notches should also be maintained periodically," said Prof Sriram, who has been guiding BDA on lake rejuvenation.Environmentalist AN Yellappa Reddy said proper infiltration should be ensured to increase the underground water table.He added that it would take at least one or two years to restore the required dynamics of the lakes. Biodiversity elements are already being incorporated with the introduction of guppies, weeds and sediments.
Here order is needed, not widening
Here order is needed, not widening
If the crowded Dharmaraj Koil Street in Shivajinagar is to be widened, thousands of people will be rendered jobless. Traders say proper signals, strict enforcement of one-way and parking rules and clearance of footpaths can help in decongesting this busy, market area stretch
Shilpa CB
The streets of Shivajinagar are generous to the hawker and the street vendor but not so much to the motorist, especially during festive seasons. It is meant to be that way. Too bad if cars wanting a smooth passage through these short routes to the city are inconvenienced, say shoppers and vendors on Dharmaraj Koil Street, one of the many crowded lanes being considered for widening. Those who depend on the street for their livelihood oppose the plan for obvious reasons. "Widening will help. But where shall I go? The government won't give any substitute land or compensation," says Ratnavelu Chettiar who runs a shop beside the 150-year-old Sri Ekambareshwarar Dharmaraja temple that lends its name to the street it stands on."Widening should not be done as thousands of people will become unemployed. Besides, the government is not giving any compensation," says Suhail TA, a businessman who has been operating from here since 1975. "I will lose 5 ft of my shop. How will the traders benefit? It will only help the traffic needs of this road," Suhail says. Clearly, the street is more than just a transit road for vehicles that use it as a link road to move from Ulsoor, Fraser Town, Cox Town and other areas towards Queen's Corner. Most hours of the day, it stays true to its character. "It's a market area. Naturally, there will be congestion," says Chettiar, in a matter-of-fact way. A solution that is being proposed for regular roads will not do much for a bustling market area like this one, argue traders. Instead, the onus is on the traffic police to 'control' the traffic. There is no signal at the Taj Hotel Junction and the one-way rule applicable for part of the street is violated, they say. And 'control', to those sitting inside their shops, means clearing hawkers from the footpath and keeping away autos that linger around waiting for customers. "There is no need to tamper with this street. If the footpaths are cleared, the public will walk on them instead of on roads," says Tanvir Ahmed, a perfume shop owner who also uses part of the road to advertise his wares. Haphazard parking is also blamed for making things difficult for shoppers, traders and passing traffic. Further away from the market, illegal parking of cars eats into the little space available. "From Methodist Mission School to Nala Road or Bose Circle, you will find cars parked on both sides. Even one-way traffic can't move easily. Obvioulsy, there will be jams on this two-way street," says Ramu K who has been around for 53 years. Sreekanth PK, a grocery shop owner, says the street's proximity to Commercial Street makes it a free-for-all parking lot. It will, however, be wrong to assume that widening the road will automatically make it orderly. The bustling market area will continue to grapple with several issues while functioning in the manner it does today. The many persistent civic problems will contribute to chaos."The drains, especially at the Lubbay Masjid Street Corner, overflow during rains. All repairs have only offered temporary relief. They don't do anything permanent here," says Ramu."When it rains, it is hellish here. The drainage problem is our biggest and long-standing complaint," says Abdullah Basha, owner of a grocery shop operating here for 40 years."Water flows in one direction when it rains. After it stops, it flows in the opposite direction. Sometimes, the water is knee-high. It even flows into my shop," Sreekanth says. While pedestrians and residents complain of having to wade through sewage water during rains, others talk of the murky water that flows out of their taps. "The water we get is not clean," says Lakshmi Padmanabha, who runs a small canteen here. They have no choice but to use the dirty water to cook the food to keep their business going. What about road widening?"The larger the road, the more will be the number of vehicles. Every one wants to own a car or a two-wheeler. That being the case, how can road widening help us," she asks.
Don't bank on the autos today
Don't bank on the autos today
The drivers are likely to join the nationwide strike. The autorickshaws will be back on the roads by the time dusk sets in
Shwetha S
If you depend on autorickshaws to commute to work, be prepared for a little trouble today. Over 80,000 autorickshaws in the city are expected to stay off the roads between 6 am and 6 pm, as they join the all-India strike protesting the rising prices of commodities, and the failure of the Centre as well as the state government in acceding to demands for protection from inflation.President of the autorickshaw drivers' union, Meenakshi Sundaram, said, "We will be supporting the strike call across the country. We are demanding ration cards and housing allowances for autorickshaw drivers. We also want a welfare board for those plying autorickshaws."Owners and drivers of autorickshaws affiliated to different unions are expected to support the strike. Among the unions that have already declared their support for the strike call are the Autorickshaw Drivers' Union (ARDU, affiliated to CITU), the Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers' Union, and the Bangalore Autorickshaw Union.President of the Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers' Union, N Manjunath, said, "All autorickshaws will be off the roads from 6 am to 6 pm in support of the strike call. The drivers will be joining the strike as the Karnataka government has not granted various demands that were raised earlier. Drivers will take out a procession that will go from Mysore Bank Circle to Town Hall, starting at 10.30 am."Manjunath said that the rising prices have impacted autorickshaw drivers, just as it has affected a whole host of others. "All autos are expected to be off the roads. However, there are also rumours that some unions will not be joining the strike. The auto unit of the Kannada Rakshana Vedike, the Jaya Karnataka Auto Drivers' Union and the City Auto Drivers' Union may not participate," Manjunath said
An RTO that takes you for a ride
An RTO that takes you for a ride
Y Maheswara Reddy | ENS First Published : 06 Sep 2010 11:51:00 AM ISTBANGALORE: The Road Transport Office in Jayanagar Shopping Complex isenough to know about the apathy of the authorities towards the hundredsof people who come here everyday.People are forced to wait for more than 20 minutes, in queue, to reach the fourth floor of the complex, where the RTO office is located. On reaching the office, they are hounded by middlemen who offer their services for a sum. They make it clear that without their help, they would be stranded in the officefor hours.Besides, the RTO office is not spacious enough to accommodate the hundreds of visitors who come here daily.“We are looking for a spacious premises to shift this office. Wehave already shortlisted three premises. A decision will be taken to shift this office shortly,” said L Lingaraju, Road Transport Officer, Jayanagar.Visitors also complain that the employees of the RTO keep the toilets locked, to avoid public use, thereby, forcing them to use the public toilet located on the ground floor.“There is no sufficient water supply to the toilets. Hence, it isdifficult to allow visitors to use the toilets. The authorities concernedare yet to take measures to improve the water supply here,” said anRTO official.The shortage of manpower at the RTO is adding to the never-ending wait for the common man. Recently, two assistant road transport officers - one superintendent and three clerks - were suspended for issuing driving licence to a person who provided Minister for Transport R Ashok’s residential addressas his residential address and these posts were yet to be filled.“The shortage of manpower comes in the way of clearing the backlog of applications for permanent driving licence. We need six more employees to cater to the needs of applicants,” said Shastri, Superintendent.However, denying the allegations on the delay in issuing driving licence, Shivakumar Aradhya, Assistant Road Transport Officer said, efforts were being made to clear the pending applications. “As of now, the driving licences are being dispatched to applicants within seven days. Earlier, the waiting periodwas 15 days, due to the shortage of manpower,” he said.Meanwhile, the much-hyped driving simulator on the seventh floor has been out of order for the last few days. Speaking to Express, Lingarajusaid, “We have already informed the service engineer about the defunct simulator. He has to come from Hyderabad.”
Rain water harvesting: Do or dry: BWSSB
Rain water harvesting: Do or dry: BWSSB
N R Madhusudhan | ENS First Published : 06 Sep 2010 11:35:50 AM ISTLast Updated : 06 Sep 2010 11:55:34 AM ISTBANGALORE: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB)may soon get the authority to act against building owners who have not installed rain water harvesting (RWH) system in their buildings.A recent amendment to section 109 of the BWSSB Act empowers the utility to file cases against those who do not comply with its notices.“We have requested the government to grant us permission to cut off the waterand sanitary connections of the buildings that are in the area of 2,400 sq ft or more if they do not have RWH system.It might be approved in the forthcoming cabinet meeting,” said BWSSB chairman P B Ramamurthy.“We will first cut off the connections and if the building owners do not complyeven after that, we will think of suing them,” he added. If found guilty, the building owners can be sentenced to six months imprisonment. The BWSSB has till now issued three notices to more than 54,000 building owners.The utility has collected acknowledgements of the notice from the building owners. Therefore, it can sue the building owners whenever itwants to. Though the last date to install the RWH system wasMay 27, only 20,000 building owners have installed it. The BWSSB has startedcollecting data about the buildings that have installed the RWH systems and is feeding it in its geographical information system.The utility has conducted awareness programmes and written letters to 700 government offices, 3,000 schools and 2,300 BWSSB employees,asking them to install the system in their buildings. Very few government officeshave approached the BWSSB, seeking assistance regarding RWH.Around 400 BWSSB employees have already installed RWH systems in theirbuildings and some of them have installed them even though their buildings aresituated in an area of less than 2,400 sq ft. The RWH park that is beingconstructed at Jayanagar is nearing completion.
Bharatlal Meena said the BDA intends to involve Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) of respective areas to maintain the rejuvenated lakes.
Suggestions would also be invited from the RWAs on protecting the water bodies from encroachment and pollution.
He said these lakes will emerge as tourist spots for the local residents besides providing a choicest destination for the winged guests coming from far-off places. The BDA has built a silt trap, waste water diversion and screening barriers to Sompura lake. These measures will keep the lake clean round the year, claimed BDA engineer Prakash G Pawar. Konasandra lake, spread over 34.14 acres in BSK 6th Stage, will be restored to its past glory soon. Covered with weeds, the water body was reduced to a small pond before the BDA undertook rejuvenation July last.
Monday, September 06, 2010
20 yrs on, this locality gets its RWA
20 yrs on, this locality gets its RWATIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore: Dollars Layout, where BBMP commissioner Siddaiah stays, finally has a proper residents welfare association in place with 110 members and a website as well. The association and its website www.jpn4dollars.org was launched on Sunday. The big launch witnessed the presence of Jayanagar MLA B N Vijayakumar, corporator Chandrasekhara Raju and Siddaiah. This layout in J P Nagar with 400 BDA sites was formed during 1989-90 and has close to 200 houses today. Majority of the members have been living here for more than five years. “With rapid development post-2003, we badly needed a proper association. There was one here before, but it was unregistered,’’ said association president Neelkante Gowda. The new association’s special gift to the Palike are free pushcarts for door-to-door garbage collection, which is being finalized. Alongside, they have also joined hands with the plastic-free Jayanagar initiative launched recently. Now, every house has been asked to segregate wet and dry garbage. According to members, one of their other main problems is contamination of stormwater drains. “We are surrounded by dirty stormwater drains. We are now working with the BBMP to close these,’’ they said. The start has sure been good. The only hope is that such initiatives and efforts don’t go down the drain with time.
Its name is inextricably associated with that of Bangalore, and its budget runs into crores, but some parts of Cubbon Park look decidedly run down. The sorry state of affairs in the park — its official moniker is ‘Sri Chamarajendra Park’ — has galvanised a group of elderly morning walkers into shooting off an e-mail to the chief minister’s office. The senior citizens, all residents of J P Nagar, have requested chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to see things for himself by changing the route of his morning constitutional from the Vidhana Soudha garden to Cubbon Park. The e-mail, a copy of which is with Bangalore Mirror, says, “Chief Minister Sir, we kindly request you to spare some time and walk from the Central Library to the Mahatma Gandhi Statue entrance as part of your daily walk, and you will see for yourself how badly the prestigious park has been maintained despite huge allocation of funds.” Group representative Ramakrishna Udupa told this paper, “Most of the walkers and joggers in the park use this particular stretch. Sadly, it is the most ill-maintained part of the park. We have been frequenting the park for the past 15 years. Over the past five to six years, we have found its maintenance abysmal. The pavement and walking paths have been damaged beyond repair. Even the rose garden in front of the Sheshadri Iyer hall is not attended to regularly.” Another senior citizen said, “People may think that ‘these oldies’ are unnecessarily complaining. But we have been seeing this poor maintenance for more than six years, hoping all the while that the (horticulture) department will get some ‘jnanodaya’ (enlightenment) one day. Not finding any improvement, we decided to ‘trouble’ the chief minister.” Their strategy seems to have worked. Officials in the CMO have forwarded the e-mail to the horticulture department with a noting calling for the necessary remedial measures. A senior official in the CMO said, “The chief minister has also spoken to the horticulture minister to look into the matter.”
Potholes will stay till Nov
Potholes will stay till NovThe cash-strapped BBMP can’t afford special technology that is needed to carry out repairs during the monsoonS Kushala bmfeedback@indiatimes.com
If potholed roads are ruining your commute, learn to live to with it, at least till mid-November. Last week, BBMP commissioner H Siddaiah issued a circular not to take up any road asphalting work till November 15. The reason is the cost. “Laying new roads or carrying out asphalting in damp conditions requires a thicker grade of bituminous mixture. We have estimated that the cost would be 180 per cent more than what it is in dry conditions. Hence, we issued a circular to stop all road works till the end of the monsoon,” BBMP chief engineer (storm water drain and major roads) Chikkarayappa told Bangalore Mirror. While the erstwhile BMP, covering 226 sq km, had a road network of nearly 3,000 km, BBMP has to deal with about 10,000 km. The worst sufferers will be people living in the newly-added pockets. In most such places, black top roads were laid in places that had none earlier. But, these newly-laid roads are in deplorable condition. THE ROAD STORY On an average, BBMP spends nearly Rs 500 crore to Rs 700 crore every year on road-related works. In the 2010-11 budget, the allocation is over Rs 1,000 crore. These works comprise asphalting, white topping (concrete roads), black topping (tar roads), high density roads, pothole clearance and ward roads. The BBMP spends Rs 13 lakh per km to lay a new basic road (two-lane stretch) and up to Rs 1 crore per km for a high density/major corridor. As per standards, a new road comprises a single layer of water-borne macadam (a mixture of quarry dust and jelly stones) that is 200 mm to 250 mm thick. During asphalting (fresh coat), a 40 mm to 50 mm layer of bituminous macadam or bituminous concrete is put on the road. In case of a high-density stretch, a combination of all three mixtures is used, a BBMP engineer explained. Roads get damaged if the contractor does not use the correct mixture in the right proportion. The result is roads getting washed away after a single downpour or potholes
Paint peels off 'beautified' walls
Paint peels off 'beautified' walls
The wall painting work was done at a cost of Rs75 lakh; one year later, the BBMP mulls over shelling out Rs12 lakh to restore them
Bosky Khanna
It was a task undertaken on Independence Day, 2009, to leave city walls beautiful. A year later, the paint is peeling, and the walls need re-touching. The initial cost of painting up city walls was Rs75 lakh; the re-touching alone would cost about Rs12 lakh. But there is no agreement, even now, on whether the repair job on the wall paintings needs to be undertaken at all. Was painting up city walls the best way to beautify the city? And were those paintings so good that they should be maintained at public cost, with fresh re-touching each year?Clean roads, natural greenery and properly managed solid wastes would go a far greater length in keeping the city clean, say some important opinion-makers in the city. There are even those who are peeved that the decision to paint walls was taken without any process of democratic consultation by the former commissioner of the BBMP, Bharat Lal Meena.Admitting the need for touching up the paintings, Ramesh, chief engineer of the BBMP (West), who had also been in charge of the project to beautify city walls, said, "A survey of the areas where paint has peeled off will be started soon, and we have plans to re-paint the places where the paintings have frayed. Wherever possible, contractors responsible for the first round of painting will be engaged again."BBMP commissioner Siddhaiah said that the paint has naturally withered off in some places and it must be repainted. He added that the quality of the paint used would be upgraded, so that it would stay on the walls longer. However, there are those in the city who contend that any more money spent on painting city walls would be money thrown down the drain. Deepak Srinivasan, member of the media collective Maraa, who has been studying the paintings on city walls, said, "It was a decision that the BBMP took in an undemocratic manner. Before the walls were painted up, there was a culture of sticking posters on city walls, and scores of people earned a livelihood putting up those posters. All those people were affected by this decision."He added that there were instances where decisions were taken to put up pictures of Hindu gods, with scant regard for the principles of either secularism or democracy.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the J.P. Nagar 4 {+t} {+h} Phase Dollars Layout Residents Welfare Association.
The drive envisages a prohibition on use of plastic in educational institutions, parks and playgrounds, government and BBMP offices as well as non-governmental offices coming under the constituency. This move comes close on the heels of the BBMP announcing plans for a ban on use of plastic during the budget.
Being a resident of the area himself, he also gave the green signal for an eco-friendly garbage disposal programme in which residents will be asked to segregate dry and wet waste at their homes as the first step. There are immediate plans of introducing a conversion plant as well.
“It is absolutely necessary to look for solutions now. One must visit the Mandur and Mavallipura landfills and see the pathetic living conditions of the people,” he said and added that the garbage had negatively affected agriculture and land prices in surrounding areas.
The commissioner said the BBMP was planning on a project involving a waste convertor similar to the one in Chennai with which oil and power is generated from waste.
Mr. Siddaiah pointed out that cemented pavements affected the growth of trees. He said the cement flooring prevented infiltration of water required for the trees.
The welfare association, which was registered two weeks ago, will serve the residents of about 180 houses in the area. Among the goals listed by the association are greening of the area, restricting the number of apartments and initiating security measures.
Mayor S.K. Nataraj, who was elected from the nearby Sarakki ward, hailed the vast improvements in the area and remarked that it was partly because all the top officials lived there.
Meanwhile, reacting to a proposal by the association to bring in measures to reduce commercialisation, councillor of J.P. Nagar N. Chandrashekhar Raju said that it could not be stopped as the law provided for the same.
Richmond Road becomes an unsafe zone
Richmond Road becomes an unsafe zone
Y Maheswara Reddy Express News ServiceFirst Published : 04 Sep 2010 05:28:06 PM ISTBANGALORE: Richmond Road, one of the well-known roads in Bangalore, is no more safe for motorists due to a huge number of potholes.The potholes near the Army Stores are extremely dangerous and need to be fixed. “A two-wheeler rider was injured when he failed to notice the pothole here,” said a sentry at the Army Stores.There is nothing to revel about the condition of the road after the traffic signal junction. With debris and garbage remains on the footpath for many months, the pedestrians have to use the road rather than the footpath, thus causing an inconvenience to the motorists. “Though the debris and garbage on the footpath do not pose problems for motorists, it is pedestrians who have to risk their lives since the vehicles move at high speed on this road. I have advised the pourakarmikas to remove the debris but in vain,” said a traffic police constable.The broken manhole cover at Castle Street Junction on Richmond Road poses a great threat for motorists, especially two-wheeler riders at night.“It would be better if the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) authorities ensure replacement of the broken cover on the manhole as early as possible to avoid any casualties,” said Shanmuga Sundaram, a two-wheeler rider.However, Raja Manohar, Executive Engineer, BBMP, has assured to take measures to fill up the potholes shortly. “We have taken up the filling up of manholes on Residency Road and Richmond Road. We will complete the work within a week,” said Raja Manohar.On the replacement of the broken manhole cover, Manohar said that he would inform the BWSSB authorities to do the needful.
Friday, September 03, 2010
This is more a parking lot than road
This is more a parking lot than road
When a protest in front of Town Hall blocks JC Road, MTB Road has to bear the pain. Crammed with parked vehicles and car accessory shops and trucks heading to Kalasipalya vegetable market, the road needs to be widened to escape chaos, say some. Others disagree and blame it on the 'parking mafia'
Shilpa CB
Mavalli Tank Bund Road or MTB Road does not have much going for it. Sandwiched between the manic JC Road, which is clogged most hours of the day, and a residential area, it has to cater to the demands of both. Widening the road will benefit everyone using the stretch, some believe. Others insist that it is already a broad stretch but has been reduced to a polluted and crammed one by the many businesses that abuse it. Any work on this one-way street should be complemented by efforts to make it more pedestrian-and traffic-friendly, they say. The entire area has been turned into one big parking lot, complain residents of Thayappa Layout, Journalists' Colony, Rajgopal Garden, Amit Khan Garden, the localities that surround MTB Road. Numerous car accessory shops use the space for their business. Obviously, this does get in the way of traffic that enters from Lalbagh Fort Road and moves towards AM Road and Kalasipalya. "This is a transport area. Most trucks that enter the city have to use this route to reach the vegetable market at Kalasipalya as they are not allowed on JC Road. Although these heavy vehicles are restricted after morning hours, it is not unusual to see them even at noon," says B Prabhakar, a businessman.Residents say that a 'parking mafia' is the trouble-maker here. Although there are no-parking boards in the three crosses of the adjacent Journalists' Colony, cars are lined up on both sides of the road."Double-parking, even triple-parking is common," complains Banashankari Mohan, an employee at an establishment here. The traffic police's apathy has aggravated the problem, commuters say. This has affected the contractors who manage the multi-level parking lot on JC Road."The matter has been in the court for the last five years. The contractors are demanding that the area be made a no-parking zone so that drivers are forced to use that space," a resident says. This is in the interest of all road users who are forced to turn into these streets when JC Road is blocked; the blockage is especially severe when there is a protest or dharna in front of Town Hall. Given its location, it is crucial that the menace of illegal parking and violation of the one-way rule be checked. Taken together, these measures will help solve traffic woes, says Ramesh V Naidu, a businessman. "I don't think that widening will help as the nature of businesses done here and the manner in which they are done are hindering traffic movement. Merely increasing the width of the road won't make much of a difference as that will again be used for illegal parking," says a resident who may lose about 15ft of land on which his three-storey building stands. Those employed in the commercial establishments fear that widening will drive them out of the city. "It will be difficult to transport the items they fabricate into the city. It will drive up the cost," says Shivanand R, an employee at a steel works establishment. Muthurkrishnan V, a tenant who deals in old tyres, points out that widening has been planned for a long time. "They've covered the drain and done it on the right side. Widening on the left side has been pending. I have been hearing it will be done, for years now," he says.If the BBMP goes ahead with the plan, it will have to compensate those losing property, says Naidu. "All governments have been giving compensation in exchange for land. That is the norm. There is no other way," counters Prabhakar, a local man.He is among the few residents who continue to live here despite the commercialisation that has taken away many comforts. While the residents demand cleaner roads and regular garbage collection, those working in the shops say that doing business here will be easier if stagnant water after rains is drained off and the drains and footpaths are maintained well.
Metro: Minsk Square to be closed for two years
Metro: Minsk Square to be closed for two yearsAMIT S. UPADHYE and AMBARISH B.DC | BENGALURU
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In less than a fort night, a key portion of the city — the arterial Cubbon Road between Minsk Square and BRV Junction — will be closed off. And it will remain shut for the next two years as underground tunneling begins for the Metro. That is not all. Traffic on Queen's Road will be squeezed into one lane while the other lane will be used by construction vehicles for the Metro. The state of the roads after some 700 trucks loaded with underground excavation debris make the run every night is another matter! There's some good news -the traffic police are making elaborate plans to smoothen the way by constructing a steel underpass at Minsk Square in the next three months.“Construction of the underpass which will allow vehicles to move from Balekundri Circle towards MG Road will begin in the next two weeks. Traffic will be diverted,” said Praveen Sood, additional commissioner of police, (traffic).
The city could be in for more traffic chaos on its roads as the Metro Rail begins to tunnel underground for its stations and tracks. The stretch between BRV junction and Minsk Square on Cubbon Road will be closed for the next 28 months to allow construction of an underground station in this section. Drivers will not be able to use the road in front of HAL till the BRV junction for the next two years, while the work is under progress.With the Metro project falling behind schedule, both the police and the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) are trying to ensure there is no more delay by diverting traffic where necessary to allow the work to go on uninterrupted.
As Minsk Square sees heavy traffic most days, the police is trying to make sure enough alternative arrangements are made to avoid chaos on the roads while it is out of bounds to vehicles.
The changes could begin to take shape in the next couple of weeks with the while it goes ahead with work on the underground section at Minsk Square.
Parts of the steel underpass
are already waiting to be laid at the BRV Parade Grounds and its construction could begin in the next fortnight."We held a meeting with Metro officials on the traffic diversions required and decided to make the underpass which will take about 90 days to complete. The underground work on the Metro will begin around Minsk Square once it is ready,” says additional commissioner of police, traffic, Praveen Sood.
“Several alternative routes have been planned and advisories will be issued to inform commuters about them. It will be best to avoid Minsk Square and use the diversions for the time being,” he explains. A new road has already come
up in front of the Central Telegraph Office to handle part of the traffic.But one diversion to allow vehicles to enter Cubbon park from Queen's Road, near the Election Commission building and exit on Ambedkar Veedhi has been stayed by the high court on a petition which claims it is a violation of the Karnataka Parks Preservation Act. But a senior police officer warns that without this road traffic will be hard to manage around Minsk Square while the work on the underground section of the Metro Rail progresses.
With the high court having appointed a special officer to look into the matter the police is hopeful the matter will be sorted out before long.
Work on diverting traffic will start in the next two weeks. A road map for two years has been planned after a meeting with BMRCL officials. It is best to avoid Minsk Square and is best to avoid Minsk Square and use the alternative routes that are being planned.Taking a right turn to move into Cubbon Park to reach KR Circle has been facilitated over the last few days so that vehicles which move on Minsk Square can reach K R Circle directly.PRAVEEN SOOD, additional commissioner of police (traffic) The police and BMRCL authorities must ensure that commuters who are affected by the traffic diversions are made aware of the alternate routes.Bengaluru has not seen an underground excavation of this magnitude and the one which was supposed to begin at Majestic is yet to takeoff.
H.S. SUDHIRA, urban planner Diverting vehicle movement towards Raj Bhavan Road from Cubbon Road and Queen's Road is significant. Creating alternate roads inside Cubbon Park is not feasible at all. Instead, the exist ing one-way traffic can be reversed and some junctions like the one at Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain can be turned into two-ways. Infantry Road, between Coffee Board junction and Income Tax Office junction, have to be reversed and vehicles coming from the city police commissioner's office will either have to take a right turn to Vidhana Veedhi and left turn to Balekundri.
BBMP stops work for want of funds
BBMP stops work for want of funds
Staff ReporterBangalore: Several important infrastructure projects citizens were counting on may not take off just yet. For, just a few days before the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) ambitious Rs. 8,488-crore budget, Commissioner Siddaiah issued an order directing officials to immediately stop infrastructure works in the city.
The works likely to be hit are relaying of pavements, construction of grade separators and improvement of junctions. According to sources, the works estimated at Rs. 1,900 crore are in various stages.
While for some the work order had been issued, some are at the approval stage while the rest have been approved but not yet taken up.
Financial discipline
Sources justified the August 25 order saying it was issued to bring in financial discipline.
“We will take up only essential works. Emergency works such as clearing and remodelling of storm-water drains can be taken up.” The civic authority has to clear Rs. 1,763 crore in pending bills.
Leader of Opposition in the BBMP Council M. Nagaraj said such an order should not have been issued without discussion in the Council first.
Padmanabha Reddy, Janata Dal (S) floor leader, said it was ironical that the BBMP, which presented such an ambitious budget, was stopping works for want of funds. Spill-over works worth several crores were reflected in the 2010-11 budget, he said.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Bear with us, the rains may just spoil your drive
Bear with us, the rains may just spoil your drive
Additional commissioner of police, traffic, Praveen Sood, requests that people be patient and cooperate with traffic policemen, as some things are beyond control. He was speaking to Aparajita RayWhy do rains pose such a big problem for traffic movement?Water logging due to potholes or clogged sewerage lines pose a big challenge to the smooth flow of traffic on city roads. There are about 40 points across the city where the water logging level increases to such an extent that we have to close off those roads for vehicles. Near Kino Theatre, Apollo Hospital on Bannerghatta Road, and parts of Rajajinagar and Malleswaram, water logging after the rain is so bad that vehicular flow is disrupted. Our role as traffic policemen is to inform the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike about water logging and keep traffic flowing, with the safety of people in mind. Most of the time, people come to the rescue, removing a stone, or clearing some stretches of blockade. The BBMP too rushes personnel to spots where there is trouble. These are, of course, only short-term remedies, and long-term ones will have to wait until the end of the monsoon. If a tree or an electric pole falls, safety of people using that stretch of road is what is uppermost on our minds. Sometimes, to ensure that people are not exposed to risk, we have to stop the flow of traffic.Why is it that potholes never seem to be filled up? Now that the BBMP has stepped back from road widening, there is unfinished work on many roads.You must understand that the BBMP's road widening project has little to do with us. Discussions of the matter have happened, but the traffic department has no business discussing the matter in public. Yes, traffic movement is delayed because of unfinished projects. We are talking to the BBMP separately.About potholes, again, our hands are tied. When potholes get water-logged, the situation is aggravated, especially if the road is also one that sees heavy traffic movement. Vehicles get stuck in potholes, and on a day when it rains and there are at least five buses that get stuck. All this slows traffic. We are as much victims as commuters, when the infrastructure crumbles in the rains.Metro construction too has posed a traffic problem.Carriage width is reduced to half in some areas, which are only about 50 km away from main roads. When four-lane traffic is forced into two lanes, and even these lanes are not in good condition, traffic flow is affected. The roads that we have now are not made for such heavy vehicular motion. Until the work finishes, we have asked workers at construction sites to keep us informed if they face any problem. They have been doing so.
Infrastructure is eating us out of home and heritage
Infrastructure is eating us out of home and heritage
BIG B's Blog entry set off a discussion on the things individuals lose as cities get new development projects
Aparajita Ray
After the much-publicised blog entry by actor Amithabh Bachchan saying that the Mumbai metro would "roll over Prateeksha," his house in the Juhu area, other celebrities too have remarked about infrastructure projects in urban areas. So widely were Bachchan's opinions being discussed in Mumbai that the man was forced to clarify that those charging him with valuing his privacy over the general good were mistaken; that the blog ought to be read in entirety.In Bangalore too, in the name of city infrastructure, the state government and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike have displaced people and demolished heritage structures. Although the bulk of those who have lost their property to infrastructure projects are ordinary citizens, even some celebrity Bangaloreans have been affected.Actor Tara, winner of the national award for best actor, whose home is in the Fifth Phase, JP Nagar, said, "I have been staying in this house for 25 years. I have a strong sentimental attachment to my home. One fine morning, I saw a signboard outside my house saying that a subway would be built under the road in front of my house. I was shocked. Somehow, the compound wall of my house was not broken, but construction has happened right adjacent to my house. I feel one with those whose homes have been affected."The underpass near Tara's house is still under construction. It has still to be inaugurated. She is, however, apprehensive that the peace she enjoys at her home will soon be disturbed by the relentless flow of traffic. Ask her about the road-widening plans of the BBMP that have currently been shelved, and she says, "Yeah, a time will come when all we'll have in the city are roads, no houses."Remarking about the ham-handedness with which many infrastructure projects are implemented, Tara said, "In many Western nations that have had to deal with traffic congestion, heritage sites have been preserved as part of the city's landscape even as infrastructure projects have been implemented. Here, not only is heritage not even considered, even those displaced by such work remain uncompensated."Former judge of the Karnataka high court, justice MF Saldhana, said that it is time that the people acted to stop the devastation of the city in the name of development. "Under the guise of metro rail, they (the state government and the corporation) have devastated the city. It looks like a war zone. The mono rail consortium, a global organisation, had appealed to the state government that they could set up a system in 10 months, without cutting any tree or taking any land. The mono rail would have been a state-of-the-art venture, likely to serve the commuting needs of the city for at least 20 years. Fares would be lower than bus fares, and the project would be implemented at no cost to the government. But who listens?" asked the former judge, in conversation with DNA.
Potholes: Bengaluru needs long term plan not just a quick-fix
Potholes: Bengaluru needs long term plan not just a quick-fixBengaluru,
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BBMP has made tall promises of filling up all potholes in the city in 15 days.But Bengalureans are sceptical as the civic body has found it difficult to keep most of its promises in the past. With craters resurfacing in most roads that were asphalted recently, the question being asked is will the city ever be free of these warts, report Amit S.Upadhye and Chandrashekhar G. I have begun a pothole filling drive. All ward engineers have been directed to fill all potholes in the next 15 days and Rs 1 lakh has been set aside for the job in each ward.
H. Siddaiah, BBMP commissioner Even young peo ple, who are between 25 and 35 years old, are suffering from slip discs due to the bad condition of the roads. Although various factors cause slip disc and spinal problems, the bad roads are making a considerable contribution.
Dr Keyur A. Buch, surgeon
Ben galureans, who have heard it all before, are not surprisingly sceptical about BBMP's promise to fill all potholes on the roads in the city in the next fortnight. They fear it may be a rushed job, and the potholes will reappear in no time. Now that the city is looking forward to more durable concrete roads on some stretches, people don't see why other roads too should not be repaired and made to last longer. But they are not prepared to go by promises alone. BBMP commissioner H. Siddaiah's announcement that potholes will be filled in a fortnight has therefore been met at best with cautious optimism. Not only has he promised to give every ward Rs 1 lakh to fill the potholes on roads in their jurisdiction, but has also directed contractors to repair newly laid roads that may have deteriorated in rain or for other reasons soon afterwards.No doubt the commissioner's intentions are good, but are they enough to accomplish what the city really needs -pothole-free roads for the next couple of years at least? An expert in laying roads doesn't think BBMP is up to the job. "It's an eyewash," he says, about the promise made to fill the potholes in the next two weeks, explaining that filling the crater-like holes on the roads is not as easy as it seems. "BBMP does not have the machines required to fill them up scientifically.Only the Land Army which fills potholes on 10 per cent of the roads has the equipment necessary," he says.
This is not something Bengalureans want to hear as most are fed up with the craters that have appeared even on roads that have been asphalted four times in the last couple of years like the stretch at the Basaveshwara Circle in front of Chalukya Hotel, where vehicles are forced to slow down to avoid a huge pothole that doesn't seem to disappear, no matter how many times it is filled.
Going by BBMP there are over a 100 nearly 10 inch deep potholes in the city's Central Business District alone.
Many were filled but have resurfaced after the recent downpour, leaving traffic experts pointing accusing fingers at BBMP's highly unscientific approach to filling them up. Vinay Sreenivasa, a member of NGO, Hasiru Usiru, says the solution lies in allowing a citizens' audit of the work done to repair roads. "BBMP must involve citizens in doing an audit of the work carried out to make sure that it is of superior quality.When the government is talking about following the Gujarat model of development for the state, why shouldn't BBMP learn something from the Ahmedabad City Corporation," he asks
BMRCL has stated that the civil works of the Byappanahalli-Chinnaswamy stadium stretch (6.7 km) will be completed by October end.
About 25 per cent of the track (3.1 km of double track) has been laid for the stretch up to the stadium from Byappanahalli and an average of 62.1 per cent of work on the six stations on the stretch is also complete. Also, piers have been completed at all the 222 locations, and about 99 per cent of viaduct launching has been completed.
BMRCL said the stretch between Byappanahalli and M G Road, which is to be commissioned by December 2010, is expected to meet the deadline and other system works - including signalling, etc, are on the anvil in the coming months. And construction of boundary wall, etc, at the Byappanahalli depot has been completed, while works like stabling shed and repair workshop are in the process of being completed and will be over latest by November.
Stating that the rolling stocks, including the coaches, will arrive in the City by October 15, BMRCL further said that the trail run of five trains will commence by November and the official commissioning of the stretch will be done in December.
The Corporation also said that the road traffic on the stretch will be open by October.
Similarly, Reach Two – on the stretch from Magadi Road to Mysore Road – about 712 piles have been completed out of 1,104. Besides, 41 piers out of 241 and 400 segments out of the 2,106 have been casted. About 16 per cent of the work in Vijayanagar, Hosahalli and Tollgate stations are complete, about 15 per cent of work is complete on Mysore Road, Deepanjali Nagar and Magadi Road stations.
Highlights
* Civil work on the 6.7 km Byappanahalli-Chinnaswamy stadium stretch to be completed by October-end* Five trail trains on the stretch to commence from November* 3.1 km of track (double) already laid* 62.1 per cent of work at the six stations on the stretch completed* Systems work to begin soon
Road trouble of Ambedkar Veedhi
Road trouble of Ambedkar Veedhi
Y Maheswara Reddy First Published : 31 Aug 2010 10:18:00 PM ISTLast Updated : 01 Sep 2010 11:14:37 AM ISTBANGALORE: If the condition of Dr B R Ambedkar Veedhi is any indication, one can imagine the miserable conditions of other low-lying areas in Bangalore city during monsoon.The USP of Ambedkar Veedhi is that almost all important people, including ministers, legislators and government officials, use this road every day. Needless to say, they are not affected by stagnated water near the Coffee Board since they use four-wheelers to commute between their homes and offices.However, it has become a Herculean task for pedestrians to use the footpath adjacent to the Coffee Board compound. Stagnated murky water is a major concern on this part of the traffic ridden roads.Surprisingly, there is no facility to drain out the rain water on this portion of the road. ‘’I have to use the footpath on the other side of the road due to the stagnated water on this side. I hope the authorities concerned do something to avoid this nuisance during monsoon,’’ said Sashidharan, a government employee.The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials have found an easy method to drain out the stagnated water by opening a hole to a sewage manhole. However, the water remain stagnated whenever the sewage manhole is choked with silt and other waste materials.‘’I am unaware of this problem. I have not received any complaints. I will depute an assistant executive engineer to inspect the spot,’’ said Suresh, Executive Engineer, BBMP.However, Sateesh, Assistant Executive Engineer, BBMP, said the sewage manhole was choked with silt. ‘’I will inform the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) authorities to take measures to clean the sewage manhole. If the manhole is clear, the water will flow into it and there will be no stagnation of rain water on this road,’’ Sateesh explains.
Bidadi township plan gets a push with developers
Bidadi township plan gets a push with developers
Jayadevan PK First Published : 01 Sep 2010 02:45:52 AM ISTLast Updated : 01 Sep 2010 11:00:32 AM ISTBANGALORE: The Bidadi integrated township project, touted as New Bangalore and estimated to cost `60,000 crore in 2007, has got a fresh lease of life.The township is once again generating interest among realestate developers after it was shelved because of economic slowdown.Sources in the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) said Reliance Infrastructure, Hindustan Construction Corporation, GVK, GMR, Marg and Rajesh Exports were among those keen to take the project forward.In a bid to encourage more competition, the state government, which was supposed to open the request for qualification (RFQ) bids on Tuesday, extended the date to September 24, sources said."The technical advisor to the project has said it would be wise to extend the date so that other bidders can participate and bidding is more competitive," said a BMRDA official who did not want to be identified.The source said the department has received a Request for Qualification from Reliance Infrastructure for the project.The mega project has been planned in Bidadi, 30 kilometres from Bangalore, over 9,178 acres of land.The project, planned with the idea to decongest Bangalore city, was awarded to Delhibased real estate player DLF in 2007.It was shelved after DLF backed out of the project citing economic slowdown and political instability in the state. The Karnataka government revived the proposal at the last Global Investors Meet and sought investors.The project, estimated to cost `60,000 crore in 2007, is now estimated between `70,000`80,000 crore. Officials said the increase in cost was due to increase in input costs and real estate prices.
Metro on a roll, will meet December deadline
Metro on a roll, will meet December deadline
Express News Service First Published : 02 Sep 2010 02:45:34 AM ISTLast Updated : 02 Sep 2010 09:11:54 AM ISTBANGALORE: With the completion of the metro bridge work on the Reach-1 (Byappanahalli to MG Road) stretch, the Bangalore Metro Corporation claims that it will be able to have the metro on track by the end of December.“The Byappanahalli to MG Road viaduct work has been completed and we will be able to have the metro rail on track by the end of the year, without missing the deadline,” said BMRCL deputy chief engineer, B L Yashavanth Chavan.However, even as the officials claimed that it will have the project ready by December 2010, only 25 per cent of the rail tracks have been laid, while 40 per cent work on the metro stations is still pending.If ‘namma metro’ is able to finish the project by December, it will overshadow the achievement of the Delhi Metro, which took four years and three months to finish the first 8.3-km stretch.The work on the 7.5 km Reach- 1 of the Bangalore Metro started in 2007 and if it meets the deadline, it will finish the work in three years.
BBMP to give Bangloreans a breather
In a bid to control pollution levels, the civic body has taken to planting saplings in cemeteries, defence land
With space becoming a luxury in the city, the BBMP has taken to planting saplings in open spaces such as cemeteries and defence land.
The BBMP is on a mission to plant more saplings by the end of September in a bid to control the damage it has caused from felling trees.
Dr NL Shantkumar, a member of the Karnataka Forest Department and conservator with the BBMP, said, "We have planted 2.5 lakh trees, but now we also want to work on parks solely devoted for trees so that the pollution levels go down. Trees consume carbon dioxide that the vehicles emit."
The BBMP has planted 2.5 lakh trees and plans to plant another three lakh saplings by the end of this month
He added, "Planting them in cemeteries and other open spaces is the only alternative right now. By the end of September we will plant another three lakh saplings. So in another three years, these saplings would have grown into small trees."
Shantkumar added, "It'll take a lot of time for the carbon dioxide levels to come down. Besides, it will take 10 years for these saplings to mature into adult trees. With this initiative, we might be able to bring back the sparrows, that have disappeared from the city."
Akshay Hevlikar, director, Eco Watch, said, "BBMP needs to think about what kind of trees to plant. After a heavy downpour a branch could just fall and cause a lot of damage."
He added, "These people have no vision. We understand that planting more saplings will make up for the felled trees but it'll take years for them saplings to grow."
Leo Saldana of the Environment Support Group said, "The BBMP has felled so many trees. They may claim to have only felled 3,000 trees but our figures show that this isn't the case. They can plant as many trees as they want to but the damage has already been done."
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
No room for parking at Jayanagar Metro stations
While Jayanagar seems set for better connectivity with two Metro Rail stations coming up in the area, the people here are not entirely happy with the way the stations on R.V.Road and 30th cross, Jayanagar 4th block, are shaping up . They are upset that there is no parking space at either station for commuters arriving to board the trains.
A member of the Citizens
Action Forum, N. Mukund points out that the two stations will be used by people from several parts of Jayanagar, who will find it difficult to park their vehicles if their grounds are out of bounds to them. “The Metro plan says there will be no room for parking inside these stations. This is going to be tough on the people who will have to hunt for parking space outside,” he says.People fear the result could be a noisy battle for parking in residential areas
or along the small service road near the 30th cross in Jayanagar 4th block. “This may only ruin the peace of our locality. The authorities must do something about it before it’s too late,” says a local resident, Kumar Naik.Also, while there are plans to have bus bays around the two stations there is little parking space for the buses here either.“All in all the Metro project seems out to cause us trouble,” Mr. Naik laments.A Metro Rail official when contacted, confirmed the people's fears.
“The Jayanagar stations will have a generator room at one end, but there will be no vendors, no shops, and no parking at any of the stations here,” he said, adding that there will be no bus stations either, only three bus bays on either side of the road at each station. “This will not hamper traffic on the main road, nor will the service roads be blocked in any way,” he maintained.
The BBMP budget is out. But there is much scepticism among the homemakers. "How will this address my immediate concerns," is the question on almost every homemaker's lips. When asked to list their problems on priority, they unleash a barrage of woes. "The BBMP should take up road asphalting seriously. But then what is the use? They asphalt the road and the next day someone else arrives to dig it up. The cycle goes on," says Anitha Srinivas, mother of two and resident of HBR Layout, taking a break from having lunch to shares her problems with DNA."They should also stop cutting trees. We should live our lives around the trees. Also, there are too many stray dogs. I just cannot take my two-wheeler out on the streets," says she.But she is relieved when informed of the BBMP's plan to set up five swimming pools. "I hope one of them is near my home so I don't have to take my kids all the way to the Basavanagudi pool," she says. Veena Seshadri, a resident of Shankarapuram, is miffed with the lack of civic sense among the citizens. "Any little space on the pavement next to a tree is turned into a garbage bin. Why is the BBMP not imposing a hefty fine on such people," she asks.Pavements are dug up unnecessarily and traffic system is in a mess, she says. "LED lights are fine for the city. But how about thinking in terms of alternative sources like solar lights," asks Veena. What makes Parizaad Berlin, a resident of Diamond District on Old Airport Road, furious is the Palike's unplanned tree planting campaigns. "Such drives are good for the city. But saplings are planted anywhere, and later they have to be removed because they come in the way of wires, or the road," she says.There is no monitoring of the laying of pavements. "One day you find the path okay but the next day, there is a gaping hole. Workers may have removed the slabs to lay cables but such a dangerous spot should be cordoned off," she says. There are not many parks or places where Preetha D'Souza can go for her evening walk near Hutchins Road, and this bothers her. "Open spaces and a bit of green can do so much to transform an area," she says. Resident of Whitefield, Sabah Arakkal, has a similar problem in her area. "There is space for a park, but no benches, no planned area for those who want to exercise. I cannot take the pram inside the park," she says.The school buses that ply in the residential area drive rashly. "They almost ran me over twice. There must be some monitoring of these buses," says Sabah.
50 new flyovers and underpasses will be built
50 new flyovers and underpasses will be built
The total outlay of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike budget, at Rs8,488 crore, has doubled, when compared to last year. Nearly 62% of that outlay is provided for civic infrastructure development. Chairman of the Palike's standing committee on finance and taxation, PN Sadashiva, who presented the budget, spoke to Shwetha S.Road widening has been a controversial matter in the city. Does the budget make any allocation for it?The committee has not taken any decision on road widening. We will wait and watch, to see how matters improve with the construction of the proposed flyovers and underpasses.What plans do you have for easing traffic flow in the city?We plan to construct about 50 new flyovers and underpasses in different parts of the city. A few sites for such construction have already been identified, Jayanagar, for instance, and Chamarajpet South End Circle. We expect that these will ease traffic flow.Although the budget allocation this year is double what it was last year, the BBMP still faces a cash crunch. How will you manage to tide over that?I think we should be able to manage. We get about Rs500 crore through the State Finance Commission; once Akrama Sakrama is streamlined, we expect an amount of Rs750 crore. The state government's contribution to the BBMP budget is Rs1,500 crore.How about revenue mobilisation through property tax, or from advertisements?There has been gradual increase of income from property tax collection during the last five years. After adopting Unit Area Value (UAV) system as the basis for assessment of property tax, the yield has been good. Efforts are also being made to bring the missing properties into the tax net by using the GIS system. As for revenue from advertising, we have detected and removed unauthorised hoardings. We are working towards a policy of auctioning advertisement rights. We are expected to collect about Rs100 crore through advertisement tax during 2010-11.Do you have any additional means of revenue mobilisation planned? Special developmental charges on high-value properties will be levied. Tax on heavy commercial carriages, which use public roads for loading and unloading, will be levied. Heavy charges will be imposed on those who erect towers for commercial purposes, and install dish antennae for commercial uses. Annual fees will be levied on private electrical transformers installed on BBMP properties. These are some of the means of additional revenue mobilisation this year.
SC okays the military memorial
SC okays the military memorial
Many of those who earlier vehemently opposed the project have since resigned to the construction activity within the park
Bosky Khanna
The legal battle to protect an important and centrally-located park in the city from 'development' came to an end on Monday, as the Supreme Court dismissed the plea against the memorial filed by petitioner Dr Sudhir Pai, secretary of Krishna Apartments Association. The apex court upheld the decision of the Karnataka high court, which on June 4, had said that the construction of the National Military Memorial within the Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park would be in the interest of the general public, and a matter of pride for the city. The high court had also observed that the park would only lose about four eucalyptus trees.The petitioner had sought the intervention of the apex court against the June 4 ruling of the high court. The Supreme Court bench, comprising justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly dismissed the case on Monday. On July 26, the two judges had adjourned hearing of the case by four weeks as the respondents had said that they did not receive the court notice that sought details of the site map.Responding to the ruling of the Supreme Court, Dr Pai said, "If the court thinks that this is not a violation of the law, then what more can we do? We can do nothing but look on as the construction continues. We hope this won't set a precedent. After this, many other parks in the city could have construction approved for various issues, including emotional ones."Representing just the opposite viewpoint while reacting to the hearing, Major General MC Nanjappa, sub-committee member for the Rashtriya Sainik Smaraka, said that the ruling brought much joy. This is a national project, and this is one expression of gratitude to the martyrs, he said. "The cause of the construction of the Smaraka was not just an ex-servicemen's battle. It is also a victory for the state government. As ex-servicemen, we have a sentimental attachment to the project. We now hope that all, including the ones who went to court against the project, will now join hands in offering suggestions and seeing to the completion of the project," Major General Nanjappa said.With regard to the deadline set earlier for the completion of the project, Major General Nanjappa said, "We hope that the major symbolic portion of the proposed project would be completed by Vijay Diwas, December 16. We hope that the Veeragalu and flag post will be ready by then. Minor works like the motivation hall and landscaping could take more time."Subhashini Vasanth, founder-trustee of Vasantharatna Foundation for Art, also the wife of deceased Col Vasanth Venugopal, who died in 2007 fighting terrorists in Kashmir, said, "I am very happy for this judgment. It was beyond the power of any one person to do this, and there were certain delays, but I am hopeful that the construction of at least the basic structure would be done by Vijay Diwas. Else, it is likely that the project would be completed by Republic Day."Environmentalists, however, who had earlier opposed construction activity within the park, are now looking forward to the greening of the entire area. Dr AN Yellappa Reddy, a noted environmentalist, said, "Though in principle I was opposed to the construction, now I am resigned to it. I hope the whole area will be made a green space."What is heartening is that even those who earlier opposed the idea are now pitching in with suggestions. Yellappa said, "I was invited to visit the place a fortnight ago to offer suggestions on greening the area. I suggested that the six acres earmarked for the construction should be developed into a patriotic, spiritual garden."Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, on July 1, faced with opposition to the project, had declared that construction of the memorial would be dropped; a fortnight later, in a volte-face, he had announced that construction would go ahead. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs15 crore.
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Point to Ponder
What do you call a congenial, captivating, cosmopolitan confluence of software and shopping malls, electronics and environment friendliness, salubrious climate and
cleanliness, modern outlook and old worldliness, precision engineering and pubs? You call it India's best city for business. It is also called Bangalore.
Opening lines of Business Today's survey on India's best cities for business, December 1998. Does Bangalore resemble any of this today?
Disclaimer
This blog primarily aggregates news content related to Bangalore from multiple public sources apart from sporadic original writing. The sources of such aggregated content are duly credited. All copyright rests with their original authors and owners and the blog makes no claim to the same. | {
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SAMUEL BEN ISAAC HA-SARDI:
Spanish rabbi; flourished in the first half of the thirteenth century. In his youth he attended the school of Rabbi Nathan ben Meïr of Trinquetaille, Provence, and later he returned to Spain, his native country. Conforte ("Ḳore ha-Dorot," p. 20a) derives the name "Sardi" from the city of Sardinia. Zacuto ("Yuḥasin," ed. Filipowski, p. 221a) calls Samuel "Ha-Sefaradi"; so does Heilprin in "Seder ha-Dorot," i. 216b, 292a in the Warsaw edition of 1883, but in iii. 108b of the Warsaw edition of 1882 he designates him "Ha-Sardi."
Samuel was a contemporary of Naḥmanides, whom he consulted on Talmudical questions. Solomon ben Abraham of Montpellier, who in his implacable hatred of philosophy denounced the works of Maimonides and appealed to the Inquisition to burn them, wrote a letter to Samuel in which he speaks highly of his learning and reminds him of their friendly relations in their youth. This letter, one of the many that Solomon addressed to French and Spanish rabbis against Maimonides, was published by S. J. Halberstam in Kobak's "Jeschurun," viii. 98.
Samuel wrote in 1225: "Sefer ha-Terumot" (Salonica, 1596 and 1628; Prague, 1605, with Azariah Pigo's commentary "Giddule Terumah," Venice, 1643), novellæ on the civil laws of the Talmud, divided into "she'arim" (gates) and "peraḳim" (chapters). In the preface the author mentions another work written by him, "Sefer ha-Zikronot," on the arrangement of the tractates and chapters of the Mishnah; but it was not printed, and the manuscript is no longer extant. | {
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Signs of the Times
Record Abuse Settlement Reached in California
The Diocese of Orange, Calif., reached a reportedly record-breaking financial settlement with 87 alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse on Dec. 2. Judge Owen Lee Kwong, who oversaw the settlement, ordered participants on both sides not to discuss details, but The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times, citing anonymous sources, said it exceeded the previous record of $85 million that the Archdiocese of Boston paid out last year to settle abuse claims by 541 people. Massachusetts has a law limiting the financial liability of nonprofits; California does not.
Emerging from the civil courthouse in Los Angeles shortly after 11 p.m., Bishop Tod D. Brown of Orange called the settlement fair and compassionate. He said he planned to write each victim personally, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. After the settlement was announced, the bishop was hugged by some of the victims, who praised him for his response.
The Orange settlement was the first major group settlement in California, where dioceses have faced a total of more than 800 cases. Most of the cases were brought forward in 2003 under a law that created a special one-year suspension of the state’s statute of limitations for suing institutions whose staff members sexually abused minors. About 500 lawsuits are in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The Rev. Joseph Fenton, diocesan spokesman, told Catholic News Service that more details would be released only after the settlement was fully finalized, with all parties signing on to it. He indicated that the AP and Times reports on the approximate amount of the settlement were correct but declined to elaborate. He said another news report, which said the amount might be as high as $110 million, was unsubstantiated. He added, however, that it will be difficult for the diocese to make the adjustments needed to carry the settlement out.
Bishop Brown said the settlement will fairly compensate the victims in a way that allows our church to continue its ministry of service to the entire community. As with other group settlements around the country, the amount received will vary from one victim to another because of such factors as the nature of the abuse, the victim’s age at the time and the seriousness of the harm done. Normally about 40 percent of such a settlement goes to the attorneys.
Maltese Bishops Reject U.N. Demand for Abortion
The U.N. Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights urged the governments and of Malta and Chile to allow abortions in cases of rape or incest or for therapeutic reasons. Malta’s Catholic bishops urged their government to reject the demand. Abortion is and remains the murder of innocent persons, whatever the reason behind it, the three-member bishops’ conference said. As bishops, we encourage the Maltese people to remain steadfast in their appreciation and defense of human life from its conception and in their total rejection of abortion.
The U.N. committee’s pressure on the Maltese state to legalize abortion in certain circumstances is objectionable and unacceptable, said the statement, dated Dec. 1 and signed by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca and Auxiliary Bishop Annetto Depasquale of Malta as well as Bishop Nikol Cauchi of Gozo.
Abortions are banned in Malta, where Catholics make up 96 percent of the population of 383,000. A clause allowing abortions in life-threatening cases was removed from the criminal code in 1981, and jail terms of up to four years are currently allowed for women who have abortions and their doctors.
After the Mediterranean island-state joined the European Union last May, it signed a protocol exempting its abortion legislation from E.U. controls. In early November, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, which oversees the Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, called on Poland to liberalize its 1993 abortion law, which allows abortions only in cases of rape, incest or very serious and irreparable damage to the fetus, or when a woman’s life is endangered.
The demand was dismissed by the president of Poland’s Catholic bishops’ conference, Archbishop Jozef Michalik of Przemysl, who said the request indicated a shocking darkness in consciences and thoughts, and was another proof of crisis in the United Nations. Abortions are also banned or highly restricted in Ireland and Portugal.
Scientists Hope for Moral Way to Get Stem Cells
Speakers described to the President’s Council on Bioethics on Dec. 3 two experimental laboratory techniques for obtaining human embryonic stem cells that seek to overcome moral objections about destroying embryos in the process.
One technique would be similar to cloning an embryo, except that the nucleus from the donor cell with its chromosomal DNA would be genetically altered before being placed in a recipient egg, whose nucleus had been removed. The alteration would keep the resulting egg from developing into an embryo, but the entity would live long enough to create harvestable stem cells. This technique is called altered nuclear transfer, or ANT.
The other technique would harvest still-living stem cells from embryos that are declared dead according to a clinical definition, much the same way living organs are taken from fully developed humans judged to be brain dead. This technique would use frozen embryos produced by in vitro fertilization. The scientists who presented the ideas said that both are theoretically possible but still in the experimental stage.
Anti-Discrimination Laws Must Protect All Religions
Fighting discrimination against Jews and Muslims must not come at the expense of protecting the rights of Christians, a high Vatican official told European foreign ministers. Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, the Vatican’s foreign minister, made his comments on Dec. 6 as head of the Holy See’s delegation to the annual session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, held in Sofia, Bulgaria. Some 55 countries, including the United States and Canada, are members of O.S.C.E., which addresses European security issues and crisis management.
Archbishop Lajolo told participants, Christians, who constitute the religious majority in the territory covered by the O.S.C.E., in some countries are also affected by discriminatory norms and behavior. While anti-Semitism and growing violence and discrimination against Muslims have been the focus of many European efforts, the archbishop warned that injustices against Christians must not be ignored. Archbishop Lajolo told the ministers that O.S.C.E. will have to treat openly, justly and adequately...the problem of discrimination against Christians.
In a speech on Dec. 3 in Rome to a conference on religious freedom sponsored by the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican, Archbishop Lajolo said that concern for church-state separation often led to religious activities being penalized in the public sphere, such as the exclusion of religiously motivated positions from public policy debates and tax laws that do not recognize the nonprofit status of the church’s charity work.
Pope on Conscience, Truth and Social Order
Pope John Paul II said U.S. bishops need to remind lay Catholics of their duty to follow authoritative church teachings, whether in private life or in social roles.
The separation between church and state should be respected, but there can be no separation between one’s personal faith and one’s political and professional participation, he said. The pope addressed the theme of the laity in a talk on Dec. 4 to a group of U.S. bishops making their ad limina visits to the Vatican. He began his remarks by saying he appreciated the outstanding contribution lay Catholics have made to the growth and expansion of the church in the United States.
But the pope said serious pastoral problems have been created by ambiguity over the relationships among personal conscience, truth and the social order. He said lay men and women should be encouraged to harmonize their rights and duties as members of the church and as members of society. That means recognizing that in all worldly affairs they must be guided by their Christian conscience, he said.
News Briefs
The Diocese of Spokane became the third U.S. diocese to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because of civil lawsuits claiming sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy. The diocese listed $81.3 million in liabilities and $11.1 million in assets in papers filed on Dec. 6 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District of Washington. | {
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Like this:
I remember when the Unification Church (the Moonies) arrived Gloucester in the late 70’s and started bluefin fishing. It was a complex time, and thinking about it recently, I came across these reminiscences from Colleen Christian, a Moonie who moved to Gloucester to fish on one of the two dozen or so Gloucester bluefin boats the Moonies brought to the waterfont. Moonie crews fished with handlines for bluefin. Some crews were made up of only women. Anyhow, I got a kick out of the anecdote below, especially the part where a moonie from the Bronx teaches a Gloucester bluefin moonie crew how to respond to Moonies suck!
Colleen writes:
My first assignment in Gloucester was on a bluefin boat that went to the Northwest Corner, this huge bank, a rise in the ocean floor, where the water is about a hundred feet deep, ideal for bluefin tuna fishing. Soon after we we got there, there was a strike on one of the boats in there. When you hook a bluefin, first thing you do is, the first mate releases the anchor – attached to a big orange buoy ball – so that when you land your fish you can retrieve your anchor. In our fleet, it was permissible for any of our boats to come over and take the anchor of a Moonie boat that had just hooked up, the reasoning being, if one boat caught a tuna in that spot, another boat would, too.
So that’s what we did. Soon after we moved to the other boat’s mooring ball, I heard the snap of one of the clips holding our handlines. Our captain barked out orders to release the anchor and to pull in all the our other lines.
It was pandemonium and utter confusion, and so another boat in our fleet motored over to help. This big German guy jumped on board with us to us. He and I pulled in the extra lines and our captain took the fighting line to the bow. After a half hour, I took the fighting line, and that’s how it went, back and forth, for over two hours. , and it went on, like that, for two hours, his turn, my turn.
The fish we landed weighed 550 lbs. When we got it within a few feet of our boat, I gaffed it, and we inserted one line through its gills, another around its tail, and we tied it off alongside low enough in the water to keep cool for the trip home.
The big thing to do in was moon us. People in Gloucester knew us and knew our cars, and they would drive by us and pull their pants down and show us their butts. They’d yell,
“Moonies suck! Moonies suck!”
But there was a brother in our church who was kind of a bad dude before he joined the church. He was from the Bronx, and he knew how to answer Moonies suck. He said,
So we did. They yelled Moonies suck at us. And we yelled back, Your mother sucks!! And they yelled, My mother sucks?! You suck! and from there it would escalate.
Photo: Nancy Breyfogel, Susan Fox, Jane Rees and Lois Ramunnihad stand with a Moonie bluefin they landed in Gloucester in the early 1980’s. “Like anyone else,” Lois said, “I wanted to try it because it sounded exciting. It was something new.”
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You know those pretentious “Foodies” that think they know everything there is to know about Seafood?
The next time you’re invited to a cocktail party and they start in on how “Monkfish tastes just like lobster.” You know what you tell them?
“Get out my face sucka!”
That’s got to be one of the biggest laughs know to anyone who has handled or tried monkfish. Not even close. But you’ll hear every foodie spout it out. Idiots.
Next up is that skatewings taste just like scallops. Another idiotic statement. You know back in the late 80s early 90s there were days that we’d handle over 10,000lbs of skatewings at under 20 cents a lb. And some marketing guru at a rag like today’s “Edible Boston” probably got some idea to pitch the idea that skatewing tasted like scallops and the mindless lemmings that most Foddies are, they bought it hook, line and sinker.
You want to know the best underutilized species? Well I’ll tell you. Number one and my all time favorite fish fried similar to smelt is Whiting.
Another great one is ocean catfish (also called wolfish).
Idiots.
Monkfish, just like lobster.
Skatewing, just like scallops.
So next time you’re at the cocktail party with the pretentious foodie, you tell them to keep the monkfish and skatewing on their side of the table and push the lobster and scallops your way.
It’s 1932, Prohibition and two former Gloucester fishing schooners meet up with the US Coast Guard’s 75’ patrol boat, CG-100 which was then based in Gloucester. They are on Rum-Row, 3 miles off the coast of New York and New Jersey. The coast guard is charged with patrolling the 3 Mile Territorial Limit to protect against the illegal entry of liquor into the US.
On the left is the 100 ft. Sch. H.L. Marshall and on the right is the 110 ft. Sch. Arethusa. Both were Essex-built and had been high-liners among the Gloucester fishing fleet. They were purchased by the legendary bootlegger, Bill “The Real” McCoy of Florida. Both were rebuilt, strengthened and had their twin auxiliary engines replaced. The Arethusa had a new ten ft. bowsprit added to accommodate a flying jib and increase her carrying capacity to 16,000 cases of liquor. The Marshall carried 15,000 cases They were operating out of the Bahamas under British registry. At that time the Arethusa’s name was changed to Tomoka after McCoy’s home port in Florida. They were fast under sail or power and the nemises of the US Coast Guard. At the height of his career, McCoy operated six former fishing schooners, hauling illegal booze from the Bahamas, Cuba, Bermuda, Jamaica and St. Pierre & Miquellen Islands off Newfoundland. Those cases, offloaded on Rum-Row to fast small boats and landed in the US earned McCoy $10/case. The Marshall carried 1,500 cases and the Arethusa 1,600 and would earn him $31,000 cash
Rum-row was the 3 mile territorial limit of US legal jurisdiction off our coastline at the time. The federal boats had no jurisdiction outside the limit and the smart rum-runners stayed outside to avoid capture. McCoy operated one and hired young, seasoned fishing captains to skipper his other boats. His boats were mounted with Bofors and Colt Machine guns – not to battle the Coast Guard but, as protection against mob-owned hi-speed boats that cruised the “row” and hi-jacked unprotected ships. McCoy earned the nickname, The Real McCoy because he refused to buy his liquor from the mobsters and guaranteed it was not watered down.
Eventually, McCoy was captured by what he and many others claimed to be a very unscrupulous trick by the Coast Guard. My next painting in this series will be the show-down between his Schooner Tomoka/Arethusa and the cutter Seneca.
Arethusa
Definition: Arethusa was a nymph, possibly the daughter of an Arcadian river god, and a follower of the virgin goddess Artemis. One day as she was bathing, she discovered the river god Alpheus desired her, so she fled. She ran as far as the island of Syracuse, but he kept up. In desperation, Arethusa called on Artemis to defend her. Artemis did what she could. She transformed Arethusa into a spring, but according to Pausanias, the nymph didn’t remain pure even in her transformed state. Alpheus had himself transformed into a river running under the spring so that the waters of river and spring might mingle. AND KNOW YOU KNOW.
There are also these videos from Ben who came up and had a short stint aboard the Tommy’s Arethusa-
You may remember Ben from his brief stint as a lobsterman aboard Tommy Burns’ Arethusa and the Cartoon That Was Made About His Experience-
Can the Gloucester, Massachusetts, fishing fleet survive with no fish? John Bullard, the NOAA administrator who ordered ban on cod fishing in Gulf of Maine, and Jackie Odell, the executive director of Northeast Seafood Coalition, joined NECN to discuss the depleting resource.
By Laura Crimaldi
GLOUCESTER — On the cusp of what is effectively a six-month ban on cod fishing, Russell Sherman could have spent Tuesday on the Gulf of Maine trying to catch what he could.
Instead, he never left Jodrey State Pier, opting to work on repairs to the 72-foot fishing vessel he wants to sell, rather than make a final run for cod. And he had harsh words for the federal officials who oversee the fishing industry.
“They say, ‘Oh, we’re so sorry, boys. We got to do this. We got to do it for the fish,’ ” Sherman, 66, said from the Lady Jane. “ ‘Now go out of business quietly, will you.’ ”
The death knell, Sherman and other fishermen said, was sounded Monday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which announced emergency measures intended to protect cod populations from further decline. The new rules go into effect Thursday.
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Good Morning Joey,As you are tied into the lobstering community, I am hoping you can help.The attached photos show a number of traps and buoys that washed up on the beach at Diamond Cove (Davis Neck end) during the first big storm (10/23/14). They can only be accessed at low tide as they are so heavy that they don’t float or show during high tide. One of the names on the traps is Bob Beloff, I believe of Rockport. If anyone knows these lobstermen, we would very much appreciate it if they retrieve the traps before they are buried further in the sand.Many thanks for your help!
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Phyllis A’s Moving
Tuesday 11/11(or Wednesday – depending on weather)
We have changed the restoration plan, with the immanent State Funding, and tomorrow the Phyllis A will be launched off the Railway, lifted with the Travel Lift, and moved to a repair spot in the parking lot of the Gloucester Marine Railways.This move and funding allows restoration work to progress from the Community Preservation funding work, in the stern, straight through to the bow!
It should be very exciting day!
We will post the final plans/ any changes tomorrow morning, in case you want to come see!
Phyllis A’sMoving Update
During afternoon coffee, I got updates from Doug…After lunch on November 11, the Phyllis A will be launched, floated around to the Travel Lift and lifted into the parking lot.As long as all goes well, everything should be done by 2pm. (IF they run into any issues, things may hold off until Wednesday. But everything is going to be just Fiiiine.)So come on by the Gloucester Marine Railways and watch the fun.
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I swear you couldn’t dream up this scene to paint it just the way it was at that very moment when I snapped the shot in between offloading boats.
You couldn’t have dreamed up the clouds or the sun breaking through at just the right angle to lead straight down the harbor to our dock. You couldn’t have dreamed up the lobster boats waiting to offload at just the right perpendicular locations to frame the shot on either side of the lobster boat’s mast that was tied up at the dock. Picture perfect.
Sometimes amid the madness you don’t really have time to take it all in because you’re ass deep in work but that one capture you managed to fire off brings it all back and reminds you that yes indeed, it wasn’t a dream.
Gloucester Webcam
The GloucesterCast Podcast
Free GMG Gloucester Sticker
As long as supplies last if any GMG folks want a bumper sticker but can't drop down the dock, just send a self addressed and stamped envelope longer then 7 and a half inches and I'll drop one in the mail for you.
Send the self addressed and stamped envelope to the dock at 95 East Main St Gloucester Ma 01930 care of Joey (put my name in big letters to make sure it gets to me)
Free GMG Gloucester Sticker
As long as supplies last if any GMG folks want a bumper sticker but can't drop down the dock, just send a self addressed and stamped envelope longer then 7 and a half inches and I'll drop one in the mail for you.
Send the self addressed and stamped envelope to the dock at 95 East Main St Gloucester Ma 01930 care of Joey (put my name in big letters to make sure it gets to me) | {
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Although she was reticent about her lesbianism in her early novels, Marie-Claire Blais has since written works in which lesbian passion is at once lyrical, mystical, and liberating.
Blais was born into a working-class family in Quebec City on October 5, 1939. She was sent to a convent for her early education but left when she was fifteen at her parents' insistence to go to secretarial school. She did, however, attend courses in French literature at the University of Laval and published her first novel, La belle bête, when she was nineteen, a feat that inevitably caused her to be compared with another young woman writing in French, Françoise Sagan.
Sponsor Message.
The comparison was a superficial one since the two writers are linked only by precocity and language. Blais has gone on to be an immensely prolific presence on both the Quebec and the international French literary scene. Her earlier novels, La belle bête (translated as Mad Shadows), Tête blanche (1960), Une saison dans la vie d'Emmanuel (1965), and Manuscrits de Pauline Archange (1968), are lyrical and intense depictions of brutalized, tormented, and victimized young protagonists who inhabit a world that can increasingly be identified with the Gothic, repressive Quebec in the years before la révolution tranquille of the early 1960s.
Her fiction generated a storm of controversy, and it was in part to escape both her celebrity and her notoriety that Blais went to the United States in 1963. There Edmund Wilson introduced her to the painter, Mary Meigs, with whom she subsequently became lovers. Blais went to live with Meigs at Wellfleet on Cape Cod, where she became acquainted with the literary and artistic circle of which Wilson was a prominent member.
As Meigs eloquently documents it in her autobiography, Lily Briscoe, this must have been a painful period, for the then-closeted Blais had to endure the unacknowledged heterosexist and cultural colonialism of an intimidating group of famous Americans, all the while attempting to work out an ultimately doomed three-way relationship with Meigs's lover of fourteen years, Barbara Deming.
In the end, Blais and Meigs left the Cape for Brittany, only to become involved in a destructive triangular relationship with a French woman novelist. (All three have recorded their versions of the event: Meigs in The Medusa Head and Blais in Une liaison parisienne, in which the protagonist is male, and the whole relationship can be subject to a political interpretation as representative of French cultural arrogance toward its former colony.)
Although Blais's fiction had always included homosexual references and her novel Le loup (1972; translated as The Wolf, 1974) featured a gay male protagonist, it was not until 1978, in Les nuits de l'underground, set in part in the legendary and now-defunct Montreal lesbian bar, Madame Arthur, that Blais unequivocally turns her attention to lesbian life. The book is, as Blais herself has said, a more honest version of Une liaison parisienne, one in which lesbian passion is at once lyrical, mystical, and liberating.
Her most recent novel, L'ange de la solitude (1990), which has yet to appear in English, is a visionary account of a literary commune composed of young lesbians affected by the death, at twenty, of one of their members.
Blais remains enormously productive and, despite a certain reluctance among critics and the establishment altogether to accept the gay and lesbian content of her fiction, she continues to enjoy public acclaim. She has received, among many other prizes, the Canadian Governor General's award (twice), the Prix France-Québec, the Prix Medicis, the Prix Académie française, and recently, the singular honor of being elected to the Belgian Académie française. She returned to North America in 1978 and now divides her time between Kingsbury, Quebec, and Key West, Florida. | {
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The lefties and black radicals whine about the disproportionate number of black men in prison. Yet the jails are not big enough for all the trigger-happy crazies who are out on the street, like the gang-bangers warring over their corner crack franchises. The social justice types should instead aim their ire at the storefront merchants and dealers who push death in the name of the U.S. Constitution and the National Rifle Association.
No, actually they should aim their ire at the CRIMINALS who use guns in the transmission of their crimes. She speaks about the Constitution as if it were WORTHLESS. The "trigger-happy crazies" and "gang-bangers warring over their corner crack franchises" are NOT just the symptom of a gun problem - they ARE the problem!
While blacks make up about 13 percent of the nation's population, they comprise 49 percent of all murder victims. And the vast majority -- 93 percent -- were killed by African Americans. Most likely wielding firearms.
That's the real statistic there.
The bleeding heart liberal who wrote that ridiculous article(Laura Washington) has an email.
Let's all drop her a few lines and give her an education.
Hispanic criminals--some of whom are illegals, no less--murdering blacks is a textbook example of the problems of multiracial society, as well as proof that those problems don't just impact Whites. Of course, it's no shock that mainstream politicians and commentators will call for the exact wrong response. The only things that would make a difference in stopping such incidents would be immigration enforcement and racial separation. Of course, don't expect to see any editorials admitting that, or any Congressmen calling for it. | {
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Mmo Game Guide, News, F&Q
Who Is Kalandra In Path Of Exile
Who is Kalandra In PoE? You may find nothing if you searched in the wiki/forum. Unlike poe items, it’s never actually ever mentioned in any of the lore bits as to who Kalandra was. Prior to FoO, I would’ve said that Kalandra was simply a talented thaumaturgist in Atziri’s court, possibly even the maker of her many many mirrors that she kept in the throne room. There’s no evidence for this but is kinda fits.
kalandra’s actually the name for the ‘mirrored’ world, a parallel universe to the one we know. Most trivial things are the same, like generic weapons. Some historically important events changed (why you cant mirror uniques) and some things are ever so slightly different. For example, in Kalandra, the templar wears pants. ONLY wears pants.
I don’t think she would have taken the new name when actually taking the throne but perhaps actually found immortality with (or without) Doryani and when the empire under her fell, she fled until she finished the rituals and turned into what we now encounter her as, an immortal demon queen.
With FoO, we get the twin brothers of Innocence and Sin who are opposites (reflections) of one another. Their mother has never been named, as far as I’ve been able to find, but she is called the “Mother of Two” in the third stained glass window lore. With this in mind, I’ve somewhat swapped my opinion to her being their mother but it’s speculative at best. | {
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Monday, July 03, 2017
FAKE NEWS
What is “fake”? When a publicized truth is in reality false;
when a given information is actually but
a lie; when a disseminated fact is but an invention or merely an imagination –
such is something fake. What is “news”?
A publication or disclosure of
something, an announcement of something previously unknown, a disclosure of
this or that unsaid event or unnoted realty, an exposé – this is news. What
is “Fake News” then? A published lie, a fabricated communication,
a disseminated misinformation – such is fake news. In a word, “Fake News” is a downright lie. And all lies are contrary to reason and
ethics, dissonant with good will and morals.
No. This is definitely not merely
a matter of good news but simply the demand of the eminent tripod of “Truth, Justice and Peace”, the absence
of which eventually means social havoc and disunity, dissent and harmony – be this
in the local, the national, or international level. Fake news benefit the fakers to the loss of
people of good will and intention.
So it is that the Office of the CBCP President issued an “Exhortation”
– dated 21 June 2016 - -, a short portion of which reads: “Crucial
decisions – personal and social – depend on accurate grasp of facts. “Alternative facts!’ and ‘fake news’ engender
faulty decisions usually with disastrous long term consequences to persons and
communities. Sadly, we see this
happening today. There are individuals
who have given themselves to the service of writing about what never happened,
concealing what really happened, and distorting what should be presented in a
straightforward manner.” (Par. 3)
The above quoted exhortative call has particular to Social
Media which in more known language comes to fore usually in terms of Instagram,
Twitter and Facebook. While most of
their more serious users register therein their personal thoughts, considered
opinions and individual perceptions in all sincerity and candor, , there are
users thereof who with full will and deliberate intent make use of the Social Media
basically for the purpose of sowing news fabrications and informational
falsehoods for personal reasons and purposes – not really excluding sowing this
or that manipulative statements for individualistic interests or profits of one
kind or another. This is neither that
surprising to know nor that profound to understand.
It is not really a matter of getting all good or receiving all
bad news as if the night and day events in the local, national, or
international are not in fact a marked composite of happy and sad events, an
interchanging admirable and detestable happenings. Rather, it is the question of knowing the
blessing or the curse affecting people
in the local and/or foreign soil.
To publish what is falsehood as the truth and/or what is truth as
falsehood – this is a fatal disservice to what is really right or what is
actually wrong. And while everybody else
wants to know the honest-to-goodness truth for their due appreciation and right
guidance, there are certain individuals who sow what is wrong or false, what is
lie and deception. These are errant and
erratic members of society whose present they harm and whose future they
undermine. News fakers – be gone please!
Oscar Cruz
About The Blogger
Most Reverend Oscar V. Cruz, D.D. is the Archbishop-Emeritus of Lingayen-Dagupan. He is currently the Judicial Vicar of the National Tribunal of Appeals. He is a prolific writer, having published several dozen books mostly on judicial and moral matters. His most recent book is about the Social Doctrines of the Church. He also has a blog where he posts regularly. He is an avid coin collector and dabbles in woodworking art. | {
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I Was Punished By My 6th Grade Teacher For Flashing My Panties
--- By Becky Romero ---
I had been caught goofing off with a boy in class after lunch. He had a tennis ball in his book bag and was tossing it up at the ceiling when our teacher left the room for a few minutes. At one point, it bounced away from him and rolled down the aisle towards me. I picked it up and was teasing him with it, pretending I was going to keep it. He started to get mad, demanding it back. So I tossed it to him, plunking him on the head in the process (not on purpose, just a bad throw), just as our teacher walked back through the door.
Ms. Case was a no-nonsense, 60-something witch substituting for our regular 6th grade teacher who was out on maternity leave. My former first grade teacher, Ms. Case had semi-retired a year earlier and now worked in the front office. She was also the de-facto assistant principal at our small private school.
"Oh, no!" I thought to myself. She had seen what I was doing at lunchtime, with one of my girlfriends. We had been swinging our knees wide open back and forth so that a couple of cute boys in 7th grade we liked to flirt with could see the triangle patch of white cotton panties in between our thighs as we sat there. It was a game of us trying to flash them when the momentarily glanced away and them trying to catch us in the act. Eventually, I had gotten perhaps too bold when, with my legs spread, I lifted up the front of my skirt all the way to its waistband, flashing the two boys not only the front of my panties but several inches of flesh above so as well.
When I protested (and lied) that I hadn't done that, she said, "Don't you lie to me, young lady. I saw exactly what you were doing, as well as you, Melanie."
Whispering and low-level giggles could now be heard throughout the classroom.
"Shame on both of you," she continued. "Becky, come up to the front of the class."
A boy sitting near me who I knew from first grade whispered to another boy, "Ha! Ha! Becky's going to get a spanking."
(I had acquired that nickname from the only other time Ms. Case had spanked me - back in first grade)
Stopping at his desk and slapping his arm, I said, "I AM not! And she wouldn't dare anyway!"
Ms. Case overheard that and said, "Oh, really, Becky? You think I wouldn't? You weren't showing any modesty on the playground out there. Maybe a spanking like that will teach you how to act like a young little lady. Same goes for you, Melanie."
After making me sweat it out for a few minutes - at the time I thought for sure I was going to get a spanking - the boy, Wesley, who I had conked on the head spoke up, explaining it was just an accident with the tennis ball.
Miraculously, Ms. Case seemed satisfied by the boy's explanation. However, because of the class disruption we caused, we were both sent to the principal's office to get a punishment slip. Benchings and extra homework would be our sentence, which seemed quite reasonable. Once out into the safety of the hallway and the staircase heading downstairs, I grabbed Wesley and gave him a huge kiss on the mouth. It was my first such kiss. He told me later it had been his, as well. But I was so grateful for what he had done for me, I couldn't resist expressing my appreciation further before we got downstairs. He didn't mind that at all, either.
After five or so minutes we both returned to the classroom, having held hands practically until we got to the doorway. As we each handed Ms. Case our punishment slip to prove we had met with the principal (thankfully, the tennis ball part of the story was all we needed to tell him), I glanced over at my friend Melanie, who was sitting in her desk in the front row. She was sobbing, her face red as a beat. The boys around her were quietly giggling amongst themselves. What had happened? I soon found out firsthand.
Ms. Case called me out into the hallway, some of my classmates overhearing my pleas out there which feel on deaf ears.
When we returned into the classroom, Ms. Case held my panties in her hands and announced to me as well as my whole class, "Becky, since you are not ashamed to let everyone see your panties, this is where they will remain until next Friday."
And with that, she pinned my panties up above the right front corner of the chalkboard, as all but my closest friends erupted into laughter. That's when I noticed that on the other side of the chalkboard pinned up were Melanie's panties. And there was where our panties stayed, on display for all to see for a whole week and to serve as a warning to any other girl in our class who desired to flash her panties.
That would, rightly, provoke a lawsuit nowadays. In this case, I think the punishment was worse than the crime. It's a wonder this harridan didn't put you in the stocks and brand you with a letter F for "Flasher." I doubt the boys who were the recipients of your sweet favors felt at all abused.
Wonderful no girls at my school ever flashed their panties at me except once on the swings . One of my female schoolmates told me what I saw was school outer underwear . Girls wore those so wouldn't be indecent .
I was 17. My all boys' Jesuit high school swim team practiced at a local mens' private athletic club. The rules were that you swam naked. The teacher, a sub for the regular coach, who was a girlfriend of my older cousin, [<br />paddled my bare *** black and blue for getting an erection.
If you were one of the young ladies<br />in my class flashing like you <br />did I would have taken a caning <br />from staff and a thrashing from<br />Mutual schoolmates .You would<br />have been my heroine .
Hi, creativegoth.<br /><br />This happened in 6th grade. My mom wasn't exactly in the habit of checking to see if I still had my panties on when I came home from school. And of course I didn't immediately tell her what happened. She was out of town when my stepdad found out about what happened. Basically she didn't think it was a big deal what I had done, but didn't give me any sympathy over my being embarrassed or for being punished either.<br /><br />When I told her at one point I was afraid Mrs. Case was going to spank me in class in front of everyone, my mom told me that if I did it again I shouldn't be surprised if I did get spanked in class and that I was lucky I wasn't that day. She did make me write a note apologizing to the teacher. Although my mom didn't want my stepdad spanking me and it was a contention when he started to when I was a teenager and though she never spanked me herself, she was not opposed to me getting spanked at school (and I was, in first and second grades).<br /><br />Our private school didn't really have a formal spanking policy, but by that time (1998 - when I was in 6th grade) our teachers and principal had pretty much stopped spanking students over the previous couple years, although the year before the same teacher (she was subbing, she also the asst principal) spanked one of my friends over her panties in front of the class after she repeatedly hit a boy who was bugging her.<br /><br />That the spankings stopped was was lucky for me. Because when I got caught flashing my panties again in 8th grade by the same teacher on the playground, she pointed out to me how my mom had given permission for me to be spanked (after what happened 2 years earlier) and that she (the teacher) thought I needed a good one with my panties down. She said if it were up to her, she'd march me into my classroom after lunch and do just that.<br /><br />She also threatened to call my mom to school, but I begged and pleaded and cried. I don't think it was out of sympathy, but she let me off the hook maybe because school was going to be over in a few weeks. But it didn't stop her from giving me a verbal dressing down, however.
I got paddled in fifth grade when the school nurse came in to give us booster shots in the butt as we exited the shower. When it was my turn, I got an erection after the first shot. Probably because the nurse was very gentle as she swabbed my butt. There wasn't anything I could do about it. A nun pulled me by the ear after the second shot, had me grab my ankles, had someone fetch the paddle and gave me five whacks.
that must of been most embrassing for you to have your panties on display like that for week<br />did you two get spank also<br />an did this boy that save you from a in front class room spanking your bf now
Hi Becky, Kristy here. What a lovely story; just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it. Brought back so many memories from my childhood. My sister Lydia and I studied gymnastics at the local youth center, so we had endless opportunities for showing off our undies in the school playground. Every time we learned a new trick, we'd demonstrate it for our friends every lumchtime. Handstands, cartwheels, step-overs, flip-flops - you name it, we did it. Lydia had almost perfect balance, she could walk about on her hands with her dress over her head for an entire minute. You could <i>always</i> be sure there was a bunch of boys surreptitiously watching from a safe distance when we started the show : ) We were rarely (if ever) actually punished for it, most of our teachers didn't consider it a big deal. On a few occasions we were told to go across to the other side of the playground where we couldn't be seen from the street, but that was about it. I once heard a rumor that the sixth-grade boys used to run a betting pool on what color our panties were, but I was never able to confirm that one way or another :D
To remove blouse and bra to stand topless and exposed in front of the boys in class, must have been humiliating for a girl aged 12.<br /><br />I guess, when she is not obeying her orders, her panties were pulled down and she was made to bend for a bare butt caning. all the boys would have seen her naked boobs shaking around.<br /><br />How degrading.. I think, such a punshment should only be administered in case of severe violation.
Hi, rollingdonut,<br /><br />Oh, we knew what we were doing. It was a harmless little game, trying to close our legs before the boys turned back to look. They'd turn around, we'd flash them our panties. They'd turn back around to look, we'd close our legs.<br /><br />But after a while my friend Melanie and I were getting careless and not really caring that the boys were catching us every minute or so. But Mrs. Case had caught me not only doing that, spreading our legs opened and closed, but lifting my skirt all the way up, too.<br /><br />We weren't the only girls who had done this in our class or in others, but we had been caught and she made an example of us. Embarrassing, but it wasn't the end of the world.
reminds me of nuns pulling the boys into the cloakroom to have their ***** spanked. If you were bad, they'd drop your pants and do it over your tighty whities. Don't rememebr any of the GIRLS getting it though.
Hi, Sabrina,<br /><br />I grew up and live in the Midwest. My state prohibited corporal punishment - but only in public schools. It is allowed in private schools, one which I attended. My teacher had spanked me back in 1992, when I was in first grade.<br /><br />My teacher was an old hag who had been teaching since the 1950s and was then in her mid 60's. She was quite set in her ways. She started teaching in the days when they'd bash a girl's knuckles for hiking her skirt up too high. So she didn't think twice about taking my panties off in the hallway and embarrassing me in order to teach me to behave more ladylike.<br /><br />The way she thought of it was simple: since I was showing my panties to the boys on the playground, now everyone can see them. Same for my friend Melanie's. Quite embarrassing, but effective. Ms. Case embarrassed me to teach me a lesson, but I was lucky.<br /><br />At least I wasn't quite as embarrassed as one 12-year old Illinois boy was a few years ago. His teacher, Lisa Lox, made him ***** down to nothing but his underpants in front his whole class just to prove a point to him as part of a history lesson.<br /><br />http://web.archive.org/web/20031030224937/http://www.reviewatlas.com/articles/2003/10/28/news/news3.txt<br /><br />The boy wasn't even misbehaving; it was just part of her ''lesson.'' He was down to nothing but his briefs when he passed out from the anxiety of fearing he'd soon be totally naked in front of several dozen laughing girls and boys.<br /><br />As for me, I have absolutely no doubt that if I were in Lisa Lox's class at that age, 12, I would have felt compelled to obey her orders just as the humiliated boy did, leaving myself standing in front of my whole class in nothing but my panties, or perhaps nothing at all if she so ordered.<br /><br />Or take 6th grade teacher Susana Quiambao. It was reported in the Sun Times that she forced girls in her class who did poorly on exams to remove their blouses and stand topless and exposed in front of their entire class, even with boys present and watching!<br /><br />http://web.archive.org/web/20080511141805/www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/03/26/oped/melanie.t..lim.html<br /><br />All I know is that if I had to ***** in front of all my classmates every time I did poorly on a test or homework paper, I might as well simply have gone to school naked each day to begin with.
May I ask, where did you go to school? None of my teachers were allowed to use corporal punishment, and they certainly wouldn't have gotten away with making a girl take off her panties! Much less POST them!!!
Hi, jtotk,<br /><br />Yes, it was quite embarrassing but at least summer wasn't that far off. I had learned to live with teasing by then, but also have had great friends. Their friendship both helped enable me to laugh it off myself yet also protected me from any real mean teasing from other classmates. Couldn't do much about the smirking the boys gave me, but then consider why I was punished.<br /><br />Had I felt isolated with few friends, I'm sure it would have been much worse. But that did cure me from flashing my panties - until 8th grade. lol<br /><br />I was more embarrassed at home over it once my stepdad found out about it a little over a week later. He yelled, insulted and berated me and finally put me over his lap. I thought he was going to spank me but instead he unzipped and pulled off my skirt. That's how he made me stay the rest of the night, with my top on but only my panties on below. Of course, it was hell for me with my two brothers at dinner that night and when I had to stand there clearing the table and doing the dishes.<br /><br />My mom was out of town when my stepdad heard about it. She wasn't happy my stepdad punished me but she sort of laughed it off to me, thinking I was punished at school and that should have been the end of it. So basically she didn't think it was a big deal what I had done, but wasn't going to give me any sympathy over being embarrassed for being punished either.
Hi, sensuouswaves. As I said, I thought it was really just harmless flirting at the time. But the old hag who punished me thought otherwise. OK, yes she caught me going higher than 'sixth floor' (more like ''rooftop level'' - lol), so I suppose it was my own fault for being punished (or more accurately, "getting caught").
Becky,if you'd been in my 6th Grade Class, you'd have been my favorite classmate. I loved the girls who teased the boys. Our prettiest girls used to hike there skirts up their legs slowly, saying: "First floor, second floor, third floor, fourth floor, fifth floor, sixth floor (as they raised their skirts almost to their panties). Then they'd stop before reaching their best assets and say, "Sorry boys, the elevator's broken!"<br /><br />The 6th Grade Boys used to get a thrill from that!
Hi, kakdrukker. To answer your question: shameful. The boy sitting behind me in class kept trying to lift up the back of my skirt whenever I stood up or sat down and when school was over for the day and my friend Melanie and I were walking to go home - well, you can imagine that wasn't a very pleasant experience.
Hi, NudyDude,<br /><br />- blushing - <br /><br />Ms. Case sure got her points across to me. I didn't dare flash my panties again (until 8th grade - lol). But I'm sure she'd have liked to hike my skirt up and redden my bare bottom just for my back-talk alone. We didn't have any sort of official corporal punishment, but I had been spanked a few times back in first and second grade. Although had she done so then when I was 12, that would have been much more humiliating. As it turned out, I suffered that fate anyway at my girlfriend's house about a week later.<br /><br />And yes, we got our panties back at the end of the week. Fortunately, she took them down before school's Open House. | {
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………polish, polish
Whew!
This manicure was hard work. It took some time to accomplish… and that was my goal.
I’m testing out Seche Vite UV topcoat… used alongside the companion mini/portable UV lamp. I wanted a manicure that was tedious, and one that I felt I would really enjoy viewing for the long haul. This fit the bill. | {
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Burning Man 2016, a professional photographer's striking images
Participants attend Burning Man 2016, the largest outdoor arts festival in North America, in the Black Rock desert of Gerlach, Nevada. ("Sidney Erthal works with the Burning Man Project as an archivist, photographer, and translator.")
Participants attend Burning Man 2016, the largest outdoor arts festival in North America, in the Black Rock desert of Gerlach, Nevada. ("Sidney Erthal works with the Burning Man Project as an archivist,
Participants attend Burning Man 2016, the largest outdoor arts festival in North America, in the Black Rock desert of Gerlach, Nevada. ("Sidney Erthal works with the Burning Man Project as an archivist, photographer, and translator.")
Participants attend Burning Man 2016, the largest outdoor arts festival in North America, in the Black Rock desert of Gerlach, Nevada. ("Sidney Erthal works with the Burning Man Project as an archivist,
Over 70,000 participants attended Burning Man 2016, which took place from August 28th till September 5th in the Black Rock desert of Gerlach, Nevada. The theme this year for the largest outdoor arts festival in North America was "Da Vinci's Workshop," which was inspired by the Italian Renaissance of the middle fifteenth and early sixteenth century.
The Brazilian-born Erthal found his way to California to study English. After earning a degree in tourism, he "accidentally" ended up in Sausalito, where he had the opportunity to meet people who introduced him to the art of photography. | {
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In this latest report, Symantec's analysis found that religious sites had more than triple the average number of threats per infected site than pornographic sites; an average of 115 threats had been found on religious sites while an average of 25 had been found on pornographic sites. According to the report, this may be the case because "pornographic website owners already make money from the Internet and, as a result, have a vested interest in keeping their sites malware-free -– it’s not good for repeat business."
LOOK:
In addition, Symantec ranked sites hosting pornographic content at the very bottom of its list of the Internet's most dangerous website categories, many of which seem to describe sites users might visit regularly. Though considering that Symantec found 61 percent of sites hosting malware to be "regular websites" that have been compromised and infected with malicious code, it's not so surprising that some of the top-ranking site categories look familiar.
LOOK:
While religious sites topped Symantec's chart showing the average number of infections per site, these sites are nowhere to be found on the company's list of the most dangerous categories. The Wall Street Journal does point out that there are many more pornographic sites than religious sites on the web, a fact that might have affected these averages. And PCWorld cautions that Internet security reports from companies like Symantec, which sells anti-virus software, should be taken "with a pinch of salt."
Regardless, with malicious attacks increasing dramatically -- Symantec found an 81 percent increase in attacks in the past year alone -- it might be better for users to be safe (and smart) on the web than sorry by avoiding shady-looking sites and being careful with what they click.
What do you think of Symantec's findings? Do you have any tips on how to avoid website malware? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below! | {
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Tag: online purchase
Payments technology company First Atlantic Commerce (FAC) has expanded its online card-processing services across Central America.
The Bermudian-based payment gateway can now offer payment solutions to merchants in Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua through a new integration to a processor in the... | {
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What is Temple Fade Haircut: 20 Best Temp Fade Haircut for men and Boys
Temp Fade Hairstyles for Men: Keeping a fade haircut is a trend now days for a smarter and cleaner look. The temp fade, also known as the temple fade, is one of the attractive fade styles around town.
The temp fade is a very popular hairstyle among the afro guys but now almost everyone can look at their best with the tem fades. Check out the 20 handpicked temp fade haircuts below:
What is the Temple fade haircut?
The Temple Fade, also commonly known as the Afro Blow Out, Brooklyn Fade or the temple fade is a haircut which has the hair getting disappeared at the lower parts, but with an abrupt transition between the hair lengths.
How do I get the temp fade haircut?
You can ask your barber to get you a temp fade. However, for your knowledge sake you can just have go through the following points:
Firstly cut one inch of hair around the scalp, starting from the hairline.
Make the skin of the sides and back faded, again starting from the hairline.
The fade should be made up to about half an inch in length to one-inch distance at the end.
Taper the hair rapidly up in length by increasing the hair length up to one inch to two inches
The final hair length has to be decided by the person who is getting the haircut.
At times, a temple fade may include the fade being done on the hairline of the forehead as well.
You can even give a regular temp fade any designer look of your choice and can easily get temp fade haircut design.
At last depending upon the texture of your hair and the haircut you have just had, you can use hair gel or hair serum if required.
Temple (Temp) Fade Haircut for Men
Temp fade with short curls:
You only should have short but curly hair to get this temp fade haircut. A sharply shaped thick chinstrap beard would complement your short hair. You are out to rock dude
Temp fade for little boys with twisted hair:
This could be a wonderful curly temp fade for little afro boys. Dense and thick curls will give it the intended look and also will be easy for your child to carry it.
Wavy temp fade:
Not everyone can try this temp fade with waves hairstyle as to wear this hairstyle you must have natural wavy hair. The temp fade created on the wavy hair is a real talent!
Designer temp fade:
There are absolutely no boundaries to your creativity, hence proved with temp fade with design hairstyle. You can also call it as the ‘party in side’ look, as this temp fade haircut design at one side spills it all.
Temp fade with spiky look:
What is the best you can do with your straight hair is to try out a all-round spiky with a temp fade look. You already know it you are going to look awesome!
Temp fade with a stylish pompadour:
White guys with straight hair can even wear a temp fade with a pompadour. This is a perfect style suited for all the occasions, whether formal or informal.
Mohawk temp fade with intense curls:
One needs lot of guts to wear this hairstyle, because ass you wear this temp fade afro haircut all eyes are going to be at you. The temp fade Mohawk hairstyle, however, is quite cool if you don’t care what others have to say!
Low temp fade:
Very dense curls could also be showed off with a low temp fade. Among the afro temp fade with curls hairstyles, this is a great option if you are proud of your curls.
Another low temp fade:
Keeping the curls to the minimum height and maintaining a tem fade is what you can do in this low temp fade haircut for a cleaner look. If you want you can also keep a light beard.
Dreaded temp fade:
Yet another style unique afro temp fade style is with the dreads. The key element to remember while making this style is to keep the dreads to a minimum thickness. Multiple thin dreads will be the attraction of this temp fade cut.
Cool temp fade for golden hair:
Golden hair has its own beauty and so we have a very cool temp fade style for guys with golden hair. You just have to give your hair a little disheveled look for the front hair; the temp fade will keep adding its magic!
Sporty temp fade hairstyle:
For a sporty look you might want to give a shot to this haircut. The hair at your front and sides are made to stand upwards with the help of hair gel while preserving the temp fade look.
Temp fade with a comb over:
There is nothing you cannot club up with a temp fade! Just like this haircut where you get a temp fade while combing over your front hair to the sides.
Temp fade with textured hair:
White guys have another option to go for! A temp fade with beard is all what you need and remember not to keep a light and crisp beard because a thick or dense beard can spoil the look. At the last you only should have a good hair gel to highlight each strand of your hair with perfection.
Temp fade for guys with big forehead:
Even a big forehead cannot stop you to get temp fade! Just keep your hair length to minimum so that it complements with your big forehead, but all together you are sure to look good.
Nappy hair temp fade:
The hair texture of afro people helps them to easily get the nappy temp fade. Here, first the barber gives a regular high temp fade and the curls are rubbed all over with the help of a special nappy sponge to give it a finished look.
Braids with a light temp fade:
Afro guys are known for their liking of keeping long hair. For them this afro temp fade haircut is just the perfect. You can keep multiple braids and with a temp fade.
Temp fade with short blowout:
This is quite different from the other black men temp fade haircuts and it may not suit the afro guys given the texture of their hair. This style goes best with guys with fairer skin and straight hair and who are ok with the short length of the hair. The cut resembles to have spikes all over your head. To get the most out of this haircut use a good quality hair serum that will be helpful in flaunting your blowout.
High flat top and temp fade:
This is the easiest high temp fade haircut. You only have to create a high top with your natural twisted hair up to an inch high or a little more. Sides and back will remain faded.
Superb designer colorful temp fade:
There is almost every possibility to try with a temp fade. One of the best temp fade designs could be this – try out different hues of your choice to color your hair and design the haircut as shown below. Make a flat top and choose any design for yourself. But make sure that you choose an expert for this designer haircut!
The beauty of temp fade haircut styles is that it has something or the other for everyone. Whether you are looking to style your kid or a style for yourself, you will never go disappointed. So pick one of the above temp fade styles and get the ball rolling!
Atozhairstyles is your guide for everything related to trendy & stylish hairstyles. Get your daily updates on what’s hot and what’s not and discover the latest trends in the world of hairstyles & create your own style statement. | {
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Review Sections
Few brands have as firmly established a brand identity as the Lenovo ThinkPad (and the IBM ThinkPad before that). The iconic look and feel of these systems have changed in only subtle ways over the years, maintaining a road-tested list of features, from the solid, chunky keyboards to the jutting top lip of the display lid to the familiar red trackpoint and secondary mouse buttons.
The ThinkPad X machines are small, if not exactly svelte, versions of the bigger ThinkPads found in corporate offices around the world. The current version of the X201 maintains a surprisingly large keyboard, accomplished by literally running the keys to the very edges of the chassis, as well as a 12-inch display and Intel's latest Core i5 processor.
It's about as powerful an ultraportable package as you're likely to find (and a wholly different beast from the other small-but-mighty laptop we've seen recently, the Dell Alienware M11x), but it's also not nearly as portable as most 11- or 12-inch Netbook-style systems. We could see shaving a little mass off by ditching the trackpoint (which requires a large wrist rest to accommodate its double set of mouse buttons), but at the same time, we're happy to shoulder a little more weight in return for the semirugged feel and the peace of mind the construction provides.
Price as reviewed / Starting price
$1,464 / $1,099
Processor
2.53GHz Intel Core i5 M540
Memory
4GB, 1066MHz DDR2
Hard drive
320GB 7,200rpm
Chipset
Intel HM55
Graphics
Intel Media Accelerator HD (integrated)
Operating System
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Dimensions (WD)
11.6 x 10.1 inches
Height
1.3 inches
Screen size (diagonal)
12.1 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter
3.8 / 4.5 pounds
Category
Ultraportable
If the Lenovo ThinkPad X201 looks familiar, that's exactly the point. Similar to the rest of Lenovo's ThinkPad line, and virtually identical to the last X-series ThinkPad we reviewed, there's a satisfying sameness to the micromanaged (in a good way) design details. Sure, there are occasional tweaks and improvements, but today's ThinkPad retains much of the design DNA of systems from years ago.
Interestingly, however, Lenovo has started to seriously experiment with its standard look and feel, starting with the underrated consumer-targeted IdeaPad series. We've seen new colors, new keyboards, and an overall much flashier look from those systems, and some of those ideas have started to bleed over to the commercial side, with laptops such as the ThinkPad Edge.
This system, however, sticks to the traditional beats. Exactly where in the list of contenders it places is up to individual taste, but Lenovo's chunky tapered-key keyboards are in nearly everyone's top tier of laptop keyboards. The look is positively retro now, with many (including several Lenovo models) switching to flat-topped island-style keyboards. That said, this version of Lenovo's classic keyboard is a dream, with easy to hit keys, large versions of the Shift and other important keys, and absolutely zero flex, under even heavy typing. Our only complaint would be that on this smaller keyboard tray, the red trackpoint button seems bigger than ever, and we occasionally stumbled over it while typing.
The recessed touch pad has a slick, accurate surface and is easy to use, although it seems small compared with the generous keyboard, as if it had to be shrunk down to squeeze in the second row of mouse buttons above it.
One of the reasons ThinkPads are popular with big companies, small businesses, and individual consumers alike is the specialized suite of software and support apps that come with every system. Called ThinkVantage, and handily summoned by a dedicated blue button just above the keyboard, the ThinkVantage interface gives you one-stop access to security and diagnostic tools, plus Lenovo support features. It's a very useful tool, but at the same time, it may be our imagination, but there does seem to be more advertising for Lenovo accessories and services in ThinkVantage than we recall from previous versions.
The 12.1-inch wide-screen LCD display offers a 1,280x800-pixel native resolution, which is standard for many 13- and 14-inch laptops (12-inch models themselves are a relative rarity). It's essentially a 16:10 aspect ratio version of the 1,366x768-pixel displays seen on 16:9 laptops with wider screens.
One of the best reasons for a nonbusiness user to consider a biz-oriented system like this is Lenovo's matte displays--a nice change of pace from the overly glossy screens we usually see (or try to see, through the ever-present glare).
Lenovo ThinkPad X201
Average for category [ultraportable]
Video
VGA out
VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio
Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data
3 USB 2.0, SD card reader
2 USB 2.0, SD card reader
Expansion
ExpressCard/54
None
Networking
Ethernet, modem, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband
Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband
Optical drive
None
None, or DVD burner
Lenovo laptops are typically highly configurable, although they rarely offer much in the way of CPU or GPU choice. Instead, you get a variety of options for RAM, hard drives, networking, and even operating system. Even the ExpressCard slot, nearly extinct among consumer laptops, is here, offering some extra expansion flexibility, as well as an equally rare old-fashioned modem jack--both are more frequently found on business systems than on consumer ones.
Intel's Core i5 CPU, in this case the 2.53GHz Intel Core i5 M540, continues to impress. Especially as it's packed into a 12-inch system (even if it's on the large side of 12-inch models). You're not going to find many laptops at this size that can pack in the same power as a mainstream 15-inch system; the only comparable ultraportable we can think of right now is Sony's Vaio Z116. The end result is a laptop that can handle just about any nongraphics-intensive chore you can throw at it.
Dan Ackerman leads CNET's coverage of laptops, desktops, and Windows tablets, while also writing about games, gadgets, and other topics. A former radio DJ and member of Mensa, he's written about music and technology for more than 15 years, appearing in publications including Spin, Blender, and Men's Journal.
See full bio | {
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and learn how to write more compelling lyrics. Focus Tracks: "Destination: Mother Moon" There is something very StanleyKubrick -esque about this opening piece of music. It is chilling, even when the beat comes in. It beckons you to listen
supernatural. Crazy scary not Diana literally can't look his ammonium. Fast forward seven years and there was the shining StanleyKubrick directed it from Stephen King novel. Maybe one of the best horror movie lines I'm gonna finish your dreams. It
past, cleaning up any credit issues, and establishing a positive joint profile and track record for the future. StanleyKubrick once directed a film entitled "Eyes Wide Shut," but in this case, eyes wide open is the operative way to behave
been believed that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman 's marriage was on the rocks when they played a troubled couple in StanleyKubrick 's 1999 sexual psycho-drama "Eyes Wide Shut," but in an essay for The Hollywood Reporter , Kidman sets the record
travelers dressed like Don Draper in the were more refined. Delicious food for the If only modern airline food whereas StanleyKubrick imagined it. 2001 a space The only thing Kubrick got right seems to be that in 2012. The food in those foil containers
a lot of pressure all made. I just that the two of them then I knew sex type. I think golf team god that as the Stanleykubrick 's six sites literally brilliant but certainly at that time. I think that was get ten yet Jay expand satellite
Robert Frost and Richard Wilbur ... and filmmaker StanleyKubrick ('The Shining') ... had already been there ..... Numerous academic books and articles have described how StanleyKubrick 's 1980 classic horror film, "The Shining," depicts
maybe I after the fact something might have been. Come from the YouTube clip of that guy that was auditioning for the StanleyKubrick movie and did thing from outsiders. What did you receive that I didn't eighteen to remember his name whoa yeah
And artists down through the centuries have declared play to be essential to the best art. The great filmmaker StanleyKubrick ("2001: A Space Odyssey," "Doctor Strangelove," "A Clockwork Orange") is quoted by one of his co-screenwriters
were supposed to be old stuff. As long ago as 1968, StanleyKubrick showed the astronauts of "2001: A Space Odyssey ..... copying the iPad, because both were really copying StanleyKubrick (see the first page of this story). "They've
complained, refusing to take directions from a woman. Then there's the HAL factor, as in the HAL 9000 computer from StanleyKubrick 's "2001: A Space Odyssey." HAL tried to kill off his human crewmates -- and he did it in the dispassionate
and universally expressed that it's been praised ever since his death as being "for all time." Great filmmakers StanleyKubrick and John Ford, authors Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Mark Twain, Herman Melville and Edgar Allen Poe, artists
tablet. Awfully similar to Apple's iPad their defense at the iPad isn't all that original. They signed in 1968 StanleyKubrick film 2001 a space Odyssey as proof take a Skeptical what's it like living for the better part of a year in such
Apple's iPad , Samsung has channeled the spirit of StanleyKubrick , the director of "2001: A Space Odyssey." Apple ..... true and correct copy of a still image taken from StanleyKubrick 's 1968 film "2001: A Space Odyssey." In a clip
A passing of one of the century's most provocative filmmakers. StanleyKubrick movies were usually profound often masterpieces. And challenging if not a little puzzling at first. He died today a teenager
space and we're seeing earth for the first time. Like what was seen by the human astronauts zooming out into the StanleyKubrick film. 2001 a space Odyssey. One of the things she did in the Arctic just unusual colors none of this were. I'd
For Curtis, "Some Like It Hot" brought more screen opportunities. "He got some great roles afterward -- in StanleyKubrick 's "Spartacus," which would be enough to put him in the pantheon of great stars even if he'd never made another
scene that we should that day. And he would come up with stuff can you. To do a technical. He worked with with StanleyKubrick on the shine and I think that's what I he did like hundreds of it it would. And I said Jack what what was it like
enjoy,” said the Voyeur spokesperson. The inspiration for the club was the film “Eyes Wide Shut,” the 1999 StanleyKubrick film featuring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. According to an RNC spokesperson, The $1,946.25 RNC reimbursement
at the beginning of this piece: Dave Bowman was the astronaut-hero of the film "2001: A Space Odyssey." When StanleyKubrick released the film in 1968, the idea of sending astronauts to Mars by the mid-1980s was openly discussed in Washington
the war agency," Tarantino said. "I had the feeling when I was shooting Mike's scene that's how [director Stanley ] Kubrick must have felt when he was directing Peter Sellers [in 'Dr. Strangelove'] ," he added. Despite the impressive
arouses our primal fear of technology acting independently and assuming power. Just as HAL, the on-board computer in StanleyKubrick 's sci-fi classic "2001: A Space Odyssey," assumes control of the spaceship, the Qantas computers made arbitrary
I can't do that," replies Hal. Ever since we've been living and relying on computers we've been fearful. StanleyKubrick 's "2001: A Space Odyssey" grappled with this as early as 1968. And then there was the doomsday threats of Y2k
brought home a collection of Alfred Hitchcock movies. This opened the door for a newfound fascination with the works of StanleyKubrick and the French New Wave. It wasn't a natural start into the acting. "I started auditioning for things and I didn't
Timberline LodgeMount Hood, Ore. In the 1980 film The Shining, based on Stephen King's novel and directed by StanleyKubrick , writer Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson) takes a winter job as caretaker of a Colorado mountain lodge called
Science Monitor in the mid 1970's, to articles in the Washington Post and other papers on the art of filmmaker StanleyKubrick , to writing for the ABCNEWS.com today. A former literature teacher at the American University of Beirut and the
kept a pretty good diary while I was working on film. And twenty years 22 years now after that experience to win the Stanleykubrick 's the diary takes like its own I don't I don't feel like it's. Something that Britain. But it's the voice
comic approach of Tati, whose career output was limited because of funding woes and a painstaking work ethic to rival StanleyKubrick 's. Daniel * * * 1/2, 1983, Paramount/Legend, R, no extras, $15 Among the rarest of "Reds"-type birds
Club. Father and son, week after week, sitting with the works of famous directors, such as Federico Fellini, StanleyKubrick and Francis Ford Coppola. Creating an education by looking for lessons about life. What lesson did Jesse learn from
A Space Odyssey (1968) "Open the pod-bay doors, HAL." Despite being made before the first moon landing, StanleyKubrick and Arthur C Clarke's masterpiece is a strikingly realistic depiction of space travel. It envisions interplanetary
and followers also sprinkled soil into the grave. Music from the 1968 movie 2001, which Clarke wrote with director StanleyKubrick , was played at the funeral and at Clarke's home before the ceremony. Tamara Ekanayake, the daughter of Clarke's
of Sri Lanka at the age of 90. Clarke was best known in popular culture as the author of the story that inspired StanleyKubrick 's 1968 film "2001: A Space Odyssey," but his greatest contribution to technology is creating the conceptual
toward the stars. In 1964, when he was already a prolific science fiction writer, he was approached by the filmmaker StanleyKubrick to write a book and screenplay called "Journey Beyond the Stars." The project took four years, and over time the | {
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Tag: doing it gets it done
Completing your goals in the first quarter of the year by Jacquie Wise You can be highly motivated, but unless you’re good at organising yourself, you could get stuck in overwhelm and inactivity. Wise Ways Eight D’s of getting things done This is a catchy way to remind yourself that there are no ‘shoulds’ or ‘shouldn’ts’—there are Read more about Completing your goals in the first quarter of the year[…]
Top Time Management Tools – the Eight D’s of Time Management by Jacquie Wise There are times when you have so much to do that there seems to be no end in sight and you feel powerless and you really need some top time management tools. In my book ‘Career Comeback’ I talk about various Read more about Top Time Management Tools[…]
Testimonials
Kelly in response to Understanding Bad Behaviour Blog
"This was a very enlightening article Jacquie and it has helped me understand a different perspective for the person who I cut out of my life for many of the same reasons. Your article provided validation and confirmation that I made the right dec...
Alice
Andrew
With a difficult decision to make that will drastically change the course of my life, neither my head, heart or intuition could provide any answers. I felt I was floating around in an empty vacuum, with no sense of direction or space, and my brain...
Andrew Tay
Dr Vivienne Decleva
Wonderful tips Jacquie. I printed a copy to keep beside my desk.
'Yes Man' approach - utterly inspiring and refreshing
"I can say that I have never heard anything from you, with which I can disagree. I don't know how you do it. In a world where we are ever critical, and the current paradigm is to say "No" I find your 'Yes Man' approach, utterly inspiring and refre...
Peter
How to become authentic
Hi Jacquie
Printed out 'Will the Real You Please Stand Up - How to Become Authentic) as it was difficult for me to read and 'absorb' from the screen........Just to say a very BIG thank you for a brilliant article. I read everything you plac...
YK
Jacquie Wise has a wonderful energy and enthusiasm for inspiring people to live their life well. Drawing on a broad range of strategies and knowledge, Jacquie is the consummate life coach. Brava!
Valerie Seal
Uplifting Experience
Hi Jacquie,thank you, great course, well polished and honed for maximum effectiveness.
IC
Ian C
Discussing manners on the radio
Hi Jacquie, I just wanted to let you know I heard you on the radio speaking about manners recently and thought it went really well. It is an area which is sadly lacking in business and in society in general. Thanks for your contribution...
I love your newsletters
Thank you so much Jacquie for your wonderful newsletters. I love clicking through to the articles each month and I really enjoyed your blog post about George.
LC
Fast Moving, Concise and Comprehensive
The course was fast moving, concise and comprehensive. The open format of the course allowed questions at any time. Jacqueline is a charming lady, quick witted and professional.
Priceless Hours of Research
She is a very accomplished speaker who has put priceless hours of research into the material and subject. I could not have a better tutor.
One of the Best Speakers
Jacquie Wise is one of the best speakers that I have experienced either at university courses, business seminars for at TAFE courses.
Tremendous Personal Rapport
Jacquie is able to develop tremendous personal rapport with students who lack confidence, through drawing on her own life challenges. She is a great exemplar of all she teaches.
Fiona EllisCentre for Adult Education
Balance of Humour and Honesty
I was most impressed by the teacher’s style and approach. I had nothing but admiration for Jacquie Wise – she was able to reach the least confident, and encourage the most timid. It was done with a pleasant balance of humour and honesty.
CE
Finger on the Pulse
Your courses are imaginative in their concept, and you seem to have your finger on the pulse as far as current trends in the personal development course area is concerned, and this resulted in excellent enrolment figures.
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There are plenty of good managers out there. They're efficient, productive, and ensure employees meet objectives. In other words, they get the job done.
Once in a while, however, you'll come across a greatmanager -- one who not only supervises but leads, inspires and connects with their on a higher level. These managers go above and beyond, contributing to their team's success as well as the company's.
Here, seven career and business coaches from Forbes Coaches Council share the practices that turn mere managers into leaders. Keep these in mind whether you're looking to hire a key manager for your company or are developing your own leadership skills.
Greatmanagers lead with curiosity, which requires vulnerability. They're OK with not having all of the answers, let alone the "right" answers. Instead, they are masters of asking thoughtful, even provocative, questions of their team that result in fresh connections and solid solutions. Their leadership style reflects a coach's approach: lots of questions, reflection and non-attachment. — Beth Buelow, The Introvert Entrepreneur
2. Support Your Team
Although a crucial part of management is making sure that your team is getting stuff done, those managers who truly thrive begin to walk the line between manager and leader. Focus on the quality of relationship with your team. Do they believe that you care about them and not just the bottom line? Do they feel supported? Do you provide hope? Do you help develop them? Managers who care lead! — Monique Catoggio, Florida International University
3. Utilize an Employee's Strengths
The best managers understand that individuals possess a unique set of strengths. Strengths are not defined as skills but rather the aspects of what energizes and exhausts you. Some people are thinkers and thrive in areas of critical/strategy thinking; others are relational and thrive using persuasion. The best managers help identify these areas and allow you to work within them. — Cha Tekeli, Chalamode, Inc.
There is a distinct difference between manager and leader by definition. A greatmanager will be both. Taking the time to develop their people will produce a higher level of performance and productivity from their team. It is also a significant boost for the organization, which sees less turnover and improved morale. — Jen Kelchner, Kelchner Advisory | {
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Free grade 1 math worksheets
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If the worksheet does not fit the page, adjust the margins, header, and footer in the Page Setup settings of your browser. Some browsers and printers have "Print to fit" option, which will automatically scale the worksheet to fit the printable area. Skip-count by 20, starting from 20 Skip-count by 20, starting from Skip-count by 50, starting from 50 Skip-count by 2, starting from Skip-count by 2, starting from Skip-count by 2, starting from Skip-count by 5, starting from Skip-count by 5, starting from Skip-count by 5, starting from Click here to make more skip-counting exercises , starting from any number you wish.
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As of Wednesday, the app is the number one free app on the App Store. But if you want to learn, you can use PhotoMath for that. Sorting it by due date, week, month, or by course, the app is more organized than a Trapper Keeper. Google Apps for Education. Packaging together favorites like Gmail, Hangouts, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Drive with Classroom, a digital hub for organizing assignments and sending feedback, the goal of this collection is to make learning a more collaborative process.
Though Google Apps for Education is cloud-hosted, the programs can be used offline, ideal for when your student needs to escape the internet and work distraction-free. And since it works on any device, it also helps students avoid buying overly expensive hardware.
That means more money for extracurricular activities.
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Free math learning resources for teachers and students - including games, flashcards, homework helpers, and worksheets. Free Math Worksheets for Grade 2 This is a comprehensive collection of free printable math worksheets for grade 2, organized by topics such as addition, subtraction, mental math, regrouping, place value, clock, money, geometry, and multiplication. | {
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Francois Truffaut’s The 400 Blows is being revived as part of San Francisco Film Society’s second annual French Cinema Now festival, which runs the week of October 29 through November 4 at the city’s Clay Theatre.
City of Borders, the debut film by Bay Area filmmaker Yun Suh, follows several Palestinian characters seeking refuge at a gay bar. The film testifies to the intolerance that members of the LGBTQ community face in addition to all of the other walls, physical and social, separating people in the region.
Now past its third-decade anniversary, SFILGBTFF — the producing organization keeps trying to change its public-recognition name to something more manageable, which this annum would be Frameline31 — now has filmmakers and distributors banging on its door. | {
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1. British Archaeology and the Bell Beaker
British archaeologists have long been aware of a late prehistoric artifact culture found across the British Isles, and across large areas of Western Europe. It bridged the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age periods around 4,400 to 3,800 years ago. It was characterised by the use of fine bell-shaped beaker pots, usually red ceramic fabric, heavily decorated with simple motifs. These motifs were characteristically impressed with a fine toothed comb or dentated spatula. Many Bell beaker burial rituals have been excavated and studied. The inhumed body would usually be crouched on the side, roughly on a north to south alignment. A bell beaker would often be stood near to the body, at the feet, or near the head. Other grave goods often included barbed and tanged flint arrowheads, flint flakes and blades, antler picks, sometimes one or two more beakers, amber beads, copper awls, and gold earrings / hair rings. 64% of British Beaker burials were flat graves, but sometimes a barrow or cist would be erected above it (Beaker Pottery of Great Britain & Ireland. DL Clarke. CUP 1970).
Above, a flint barbed & tanged arrowhead of the Beaker Culture, that I found and recorded during a surface collection survey some years ago.
Archaeologists studying the artifact culture in Britain, compared the British finds to those on the Continent in order to try to find an origin for these people. They suggested either Brittany in North West France, or the Lower Rhine Valley, in the Netherlands and Northern Germany. Some alternatively promoted Iberia as the origin.
Then British Archaeology entered an intellectual phase where it became fashionable to dismiss migration or invasions of people, in favour of cultural exchange. Pots not People. Rather like today, we British wear denim, t-shirts, listen to R&B, and drink coke. However, we have not been displaced by North Americans - we just absorbed the artifacts of another culture. From the 1970s on, many late prehistoric migrations were dismissed by British archaeologists as cultural exchanges rather than representing population displacement.
2. The New Population Genetics and the Steppe Pastoralists.
A new field of study has been gathering pace with the arrival of the 21st Century, that uses genetic evidence, to explore past migrations, movements, admixtures, and origins of peoples. The earliest pioneers used blood types, then mitochondrial DNA mutations, followed by STR of Y-DNA. Some of the early conclusions supported the new orthodoxy of British Archaeology. Stephen Oppenheimer's infamous publication "The Origins of the British" championed that there had been little change in British populations since the Ice Age. They were to be proven wrong. Early conclusions, based on little evidence, misunderstandings that were later corrected with more data, seriously damaged the reputation of population genetics in British prehistoric studies.
The most common Y-DNA haplogroup of Western Europe, particularly of Ireland and Britain was R1b. Early mistakes gave this male haplogroup an Ice Age origin of the Basque Region in Southwest Europe. As more data gathered, and debate developed, it became apparent that the origin was not the Basque region, but the Pontic and Caspian Steppes of Eurasia! It became associated with an archaeological culture in Southern Russia called the Yamna. The R1b and R1a haplogroups appeared to have spilled off the Steppes into Europe during the Copper Age during a significant migration event around 4,900 - 4,600 years ago. In Eastern and Central Europe, this migration of pastoralists appears to be responsible for the fused artifact culture known as the Corded Ware (again, after a prehistoric pottery style).
A few lectures on Youtube to watch:
Havard lecture by David Reich 2015.
CARTA lecture by Johannes Krause 2016
That brings us up to date. In summary, population geneticists have discovered a movement of people, not just pots, from the Steppes into Europe. Modern Europeans descend from an admixture of three major founder populations: 1) the Western Eurasian hunter-gatherers, then a layer of 2) Early Neolithic farmers (that originated in Anatolia and the Middle East), and finally, 3) the Steppe Pastoralists. The actual mix varies not only from person to person, but also regionally across Europe.
So how does the Bell Beaker Culture of Britain and Western Europe fit into all of this? The strong assumption over the past couple of years was that the diffusion of R1b Y-DNA haplogroups occurred then, so therefore, it was a simple extension of this westward drift across Europe that originated on the Pontic and Caspian Steppes. It first spawned the Corded Ware Culture in Central Europe, but then when it met Western Europe, spawned the Bell Beaker Culture. However, until now, this hypothesis hadn't been tested.
The Beaker phenomenon and genetic transformation of Northwest Europe 2017
Has now examined some of these questions, through the examination of an unprecedented scale of ancient DNA sampling. The link to their published document (which is still awaiting peer review) is at the top of this post, and I'd invite others to read it for themselves. An article covering the document can also be read on the Scientific American. However, I personally with my layman head take five suggestions from the study.
They found that the DNA of human remains on Continental Europe did not suggest one cohesive or homogeneous population. There was in this case, evidence of cultural diffusion. Different peoples were taking on the Bell Beaker artifact assemblage in Western Europe. Pots rather more than people. This was a great surprise, as we still know from the earlier study, that much of our DNA and Y-DNA in particular, originated around 400 years earlier from the Eurasian Steppes. However, although the Central European Corded Ware Culture does still appear to have been a response to that great influx of new people from the Steppes, the picture with the Western European Bell Beaker is more complex.
An exception was Britain. Here, the remains associated with Bell Beaker Culture were all one population, and they were very different to the earlier Neolithic population of Britain. It appears to have been a case of population displacement. They suggest at least 90% displacement! It means that very few or none of our Neolithic ancestors built the amazing monuments of Neolithic Britain. They were built by earlier peoples, that our ancestors displaced.
They confirm a Lower Rhine origin as most likely for the British Beaker People. The ancient DNA that most closely matched British Beaker DNA, came from Beaker human remains in the Netherlands and Northern Germany. This correlates nicely with the 1970 archaeological study mentioned above.
It's confirmed. Previous to their entry into the British Isles, there is no evidence of any Steppe ancestry, no Steppe autosomal DNA, no Steppe Y haplogroups such as R1b-L21 here. (Nor any mtDNA haplogroup H6a1). The Beaker people from the Lower Rhine, brought the initial layers of this DNA to Britain. The founder population were admixed, but with significant percentages of Steppe ancestry, particularly on Y lines.
The previous Neolithic Farmer population were mainly Y haplogroup I2, and appear to have descended mainly from populations in the South, from Iberia, rather than from the Danube, although before that from Anatolia. The modern population that is closest to them today are Sardinians.
Also as a layman, I guess that this suggests that most, or even any "Neolithic Farmer" DNA suggested by our ancient ancestry calculators, was most likely picked up elsewhere than Britain, and brought here by later migrants (descended through that mixture of cultural diffusion and admixture), rather than directly from the British Neolithic population.
I also notice a correlation with an Irish study last year ("Neolithic and Bronze Age migration to Ireland and
establishment of the insular Atlantic genome" Cassidy etal. Queens University Belfast 2016), that again, suggested major displacement of earlier peoples in Ireland, at the end of the Neolithic, by a population with largely Steppes origins.
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Today... I managed my first visit to the Flag Fen "archaeology park", for maybe nine or ten years. This park was inspired by a number of finds here, lead by Francis Pryor. Pryor and his team excavated prior to cable and pipework laying for a new gas fired power station at Peterborough. They found a large number of well preserved (in the moist peat soils) felled and cut timbers, that using dendrochronological methods, they dated to between 1400 BC and 900 BC, during the mid to late British Bronze Age.
They created this wetland, or recreated it, in order to conserve and preserve the archaeology that the excavation revealed. To keep it wet. The Fens are an area of Wetlands that have been increasingly drained over the centuries. The concern is that timber archaeology like that found on this site, is quickly perishing now.
These shears were found with their preserved wooden case here. Flag Fen was a timber palisade, that crossed a flooded area, with a wooden platform in the middle of the new lake. This platform was surrounded with lots of deposits, many in bronze - swords, axes, blades, etc. Many of these tools had been snapped or damaged. The excavator suggested that this was ritual. Removing sacrifices from the world, to that mirror world below the water. It revokes the Arthurian tale of the Lady and the Sword.
Yamna theorists should love this one. As far as I know, the earliest dated actual wheel found in the British Isles. Okay, we know they were around longer - but this wooden wheel dates to 3,000 years ago.
A reconstructed, and aged ... Bronze Age British roundhouse. I'm not sure though if roundhouses have been dated to the Bronze Age. Certainly a feature of the Iron Age - the roundhouse was strong enough to resist British weather. The lower photo shows it in it's wetland Fennish environment.
Some of the preserved (using constant water sprays) timbers of the palisade leading onto the platform. The opposite wall displays an artist's impression of the timbers above water level. Pryor suggested that with rising sea levels threatening the rich pastures, that Bronze Age farmers here constructed this platform in order to make scarifices and to perform rituals, to try to control the flooding, to turn back the rise in water levels, and maybe at the same time, to celebrate that life above water, and life below water - as in life and death, a mirror.
Artists impression.
Some of the artifact finds.
More artifacts, including bronze axe handles.
A reconstructed Bronze Age axe composite.
Anyone that has ever read archaeologist Francis Pryor's reports, will know that he is very keen to relate prehistoric archaeology to farming. Here, a soay lamb rests in the Sun. They keep a flock here as closest-to-period sheep that the Bronze Age farmers most likely bred here.
When I visited this park many years ago, they were busy trying to preserve the timbers of the Sea Henge, excavated on the North Norfolk Coast. Those timbers have successfully been preserved, and are now locally in Kings Lynn Museum:
Photo taken by myself at Kings Lynn in 2008.
Currently though, they are hosting the preserved timbers of a number of finds from another Cambridgeshire wetland excavation - from Must Hill Farm. The above photos were taken during the excavation that recovered a number of log boats dated to the Bronze Age (from 1,500 BC) through to the Iron Age. These log boats were clearly made using bronze axes like those above. A large number of well preserved eel nets were also excavated, suggesting that fishing was important to this Bronze Age community.
I hope that some of you enjoy sharing my photo tour from today, especially those that share ancestors here, but live far away today.
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Image above, last year, holding an artifact from the Neolithic Tomb of the Sea Eagles in Orkney.
Today in this post, I am celebrating my Neolithic heritage. Another ancestral genetics enthusiast pointed out that rather than Anglo-Saxon, for a Brit and North West European, I actually had indications of enhanced Neolithic Farmer ancestry on most ancient DNA calculators (more on that below). I was actually quite pleased to have that pointed out, and this post explains why I love the idea of being a modern Neolithic Man.
I remember being fascinated by the past as quite a young child. On holidays across the British isles, I craved nothing more than visits to castles. At home in Norwich, I'd haunt the local museums. However, a love of the Neolithic took hold during my twenties. First, a fishing and drinking tour of Ireland with my brother, took me to the Newgrange Passage Grave site in the Boyne Valley. Awesome impact. Then several years later, I picked up the broken butt end of a Neolithic polished flint axe head on farmland behind my cottage.
The above photo is an image of another broken Neolithic flint axe head that I recorded during a surface collection survey many years later in Thetford Forest.
This eventually pulled me into a phase of looking for more prehistoric flint, which I later formalised into the Thetford Forest Survey. During that period, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, Norfolk Archaeology, and Suffolk Archaeology, I recorded thousands of struck flint and ceramic artifacts - many from the Neolithic.
Above image taken at the Castlerigg Stone Circle in Cumbria in 2006.
Any chance that I got, I'd also visit Neolithic sites across the British Isles - and continue to do so, hence last year I had a cycling tour of many late prehistoric sites in Orkney. Absolutely love the Neolithic. Even though an atheist, I have to confess that some of these sites give me a special vibe. I have half-seriously told neo-pagan friends, that If I had to choose some gods, Then maybe they would be those of the Neolithic. Something about the remote sites.
Our New Understanding of the Neolithic of Europe
What I really want to write about here though, is how recent population genetics, over the past ten years, is transforming how we see the Western Eurasian Neolithic. Archaeologists had long pondered, our relationship to the British Neolithic people, and going further back and in turn - their relationship to the earlier Mesolithic hunter-foragers of the British Isles.
What recent research of both ancient and modern DNA has so far revealed is that after the last Ice Age, hunter-foragers moved up to Britain from Southern Europe. Meanwhile, new cultures and economies were developing in the Middle East of SW Asia. Across the Fertile Crescent, that ran up the Levant, East Anatolia, eastwards, then down the fertile valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys - people started to settle, domesticate wheat, barley, goats, sheep, cattle and pigs. They started to farm for the very first time. This was the Neolithic Revolution. The first fired ceramics - pottery was added to the recipe, along with polished stone tools. Eventually these populations also absorbed the very first metallurgy, literacy, and town building - falling into the southern half of those river valleys in Mesopotamia.
Image above - Standing Stone at Stillaig, Argyll, Scotland.
From the Levant and Anatolia, both along the Mediterranean, and direct across the Balkans by land, Neolithic culture and farming technology spread westwards and northwards across Europe. Population genetics now tells us that this WAS carried by people. It was not just a transfer of culture and artifacts. DNA from South-West Asia was strongly carried across Europe. The Neolithic farmers were a people, with roots in the Near East.
What happened to the old European hunter-foragers? It seems a mixture of displacement and admixture. As the Neolithic Revolution rolled across Europe, it did pick up some hunter-gatherer DNA. However, few of the male haplogroups. By the time that the First Farmers reached the British Isles, they would have had an ancestry mixed between Near East Asian and European hunters. Without a doubt, brides and perhaps slaves were taken along that long route from Anatolia to Britain. This pattern perhaps continued when they reached the Irish and British Isles, and confronted some of the last hunter-gatherer populations of North West Europe.
Image above. Ring of Brodgar, Orkney.
All of this was fine. The British Isles were settled by Neolithic peoples around 4,100 BC. I've seen many of their monuments, studied excavation reports of their archaeological sites, and held many of their flint artifacts. It was a dominant culture here for two thousand years. Religious systems may have come and go. They erected so many monuments here that still survive. Causewayed enclosures, long barrows, cursuses, henges, monoliths, cairns, standing stone circles, timber circles, mounds, Silsbury Hill - and of course, the internationally renown Stone Henge. However, we now realise that they carried much DNA from South West Asia!
They must have thought that they, their beliefs, and their social systems would last until the end of time. We currently think that their populations and farming declined towards the end of their period. There is a little evidence that they may have been subject to plague from Asia. This might have weakened them for the next invasion and displacement.
Image above of Skara Brae, Orkney Neolithic settlement.
Image above of Mottistone Longstone, Isle of Wight.
The arrival of the Sons of the Steppes - the Beaker
I'll write more about these guys in a later post. Around 2,100 BC, a new people and culture turned up in the British Isles. Whereas the Neolithic peoples had largely originated in SW Asia, south of the Caucasus (with some European hunter-gatherer DNA picked up on the way), these new arrivals largely originated to the NORTH of the Caucasus, on the Pontic and Caspian Steppes. Their Steppe ancestors perfected the domestication of the horse, bronze metallurgy, and wheeled wagons. The founder Steppe population has been identified by archaeologists as the Yamnaya. They rolled into Eastern and Central Europe, where their arrival appears to have spawned the Corded Ware Culture. Their descendants in turn appear to have spawned the Bell Beaker Culture in Western Europe. In turn, the Bell Beaker appears to have developed into the Atlantic Seaboard Celtic Culture of fame and fashion.
The Eurasian Steppe male haplogroups absolutely dominate present day Europe. However, again, they appear to have absorbed some women with Neolithic and even earlier Hunter-Gatherer populations into their genome.
The Three Way across Europe
Across modern Europe, we are a mixture of three distinct late prehistoric populations or genetic out-layers - from most recent to oldest:
Yamnaya or Steppe
Neolithic Farmer
Western Eurasian Hunter-Gatherer
The above image is from CARTA lecture. 2016. Johannes Krause of the Max Planck Institute. All Rights Reserved.
As can be seen above, some Neolithic DNA has survived in present day Europe. It is strongest in Southern Europe. Yamnaya ancestry is more of an influence in Northern Europe, although, old Hunter-Gatherer survives strong in the Baltic Republics. The modern population closest to our Neolithic ancestors are the Sardinians. So close, that when Ötzi, a frozen preserved Neolithic body was discovered in the Alps, his DNA was seen as so similar to present day Sardinians, that some incorrectly suggested that he had travelled to the Alps from Sardinia!
My Neolithic Admixture
David Wesolowski's K7 Basal-rich test
Basal-rich
The Basal Eurasians are a hypothetical "ghost" population derived from DNA studies. It is suggested that they splintered from other modern humans 45,000 years ago, presumably outside of Africa, somewhere around the Middle East. They significantly contributed DNA to the Early Neolithic Farmers of the Fertile Crescent and Anatolia, and consequently, on to all of us modern West Eurasians.
David gives the English average as 26.5%. My result is 28.8%
Global 10 Test
The recent Global 10 test, run by my friend Helgenes50 of the Anthrogenica board, resulted in:
55% Baalberge_MN (European Middle Neolithic)
FT-DNA My Ancient Origins
47% Farmer (Neolithic)
My Eurasia K9 ASI Oracle:
27% Early Neolithic Farmer
My Gedrosia K15 Oracle:
25% Early European Farmer
My MDLP K16 Modern Admixture
31% Neolithic (modeled on genomes of first neolithic farmers of Anatolia)
My MDLP Modern K11 Oracle:
Admix Results (sorted):
#
Population
Percent
1
Neolithic
37.33
Image above. Grimes Graves Late Neolithic flint mine complex, Norfolk
My Neolithic ancestry appears to be strong, for a Brit. However - my Neolithic ancestors may not have all - or even at all, have lived in the British Isles. My Neolithic ancestry may have been picked up along the way, across Europe, by ancestors as they travelled across Western Eurasia.
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You might think that following my recent posts, that I've lost all faith in DNA testing for Ancestry. Not at all. I just object when people take the analysis results of autosomal DNA tests for ancestry, as infallible truths. They are clearly not.
So far this year, I have commissioned two 23andMe tests, and three FT-DNA tests, a FullGenomes analysis, and a YFull analysis. I have also used free analysis at WeGene and DNA.land, and have run three raw files on GEDmatch calculators. You'd might also think that I've done enough testing for one year! I thought that as well. Then a new service just entered the market.
Living DNA Ancestry attracted my commission on two particular points. 1) it has an incredible British reference, that promises to break ancestry composition into 30 British regions - in addition to global analysis. If it works, then this is a must for people with significant British ancestry. 2) it uses the latest cutting edge test chip. The latest Illumina chip based on Global Screen Array (GSA). In addition, it uses a European based lab (Denmark), it tests Y-DNA, mtDNA, and autosomes. It tests more SNPs on all three counts, than other current chips used by competitors offering autosomal plus tests. Raw files for the test results will be available for download.
The British Reference
Living DNA will be using a British reference broken down into an incredible 30 regions, across England, Scotland, Wales, Orkney, and Northern Ireland. The reference uses the much heralded POBI (Peopling of the British Isles 2015) data set. This project collected 4,500 blood samples from people that could claim four grandparents in the same area, from across the regions of Britain.
A little about the POBI project below:
The British reference does not include the Republic of Ireland. However, LivingDNA are confident that they have collected a good global reference, and I understand, that they are seeking a similar quality Irish data-set for the future.
In comparison, other providers of DNA tests for ancestry, only reference to Britain, or the British Isles & Ireland, as a single reference point. And as can be seen by my previous posts, with limited success.
They also hope to provide imports for formats of raw file from other test companies in the future. LivingDNA do not themselves currently offer relative matching, or health information. Their service is for now, primarily for ancestry.
The Chip
They will be using a custom version of the latest Illumina chip technology, the Global Screen Array (GSA). It is encoded with:
650,000 autosomal DNA SNPs
20,000 Y-DNA SNPs
4,000 MT-DNA SNPs.
In comparison for example, the 23andMe V4 chip scans for:
577,000 atDNA SNPs
2,329 Y-DNA SNPs
3,100 MT-DNA SNPs.
I hope that LivingDNA will also use up-to-date haplogroup nomenclature and information. 23andMe with their V4 chip still use very dated 2009 nomenclature.
So, let's see if this new service is any improvement to my results, compared with the hit and miss of 23andMe, and Family Tree DNA (FT-DNA). Will they be able to identify and locate my English roots successfully? What will the improved chip make of my haplogroups? | {
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Getting the World's Ear
IT'S fall gridlock time at the United Nations. New York's men and women in blue block off streets and unscramble traffic tie-ups. Inside, officials from the 184-member nations take turns at the marble podium reviewing UN successes and failures. The speeches go on until mid-October in this launch of the 49th General Assembly.
Though UN troops are bogged down in conflicts from Somalia to Bosnia, the timing of this year's debate - on the eve of the UN's 50th anniversary in 1995 - adds an air of expectancy to the Assembly session. Any celebration, speakers say, must include reform and renewal.
Most speakers offer reform suggestions. Russian President Boris Yeltsin proposed the five nuclear powers sign a new treaty to reduce the number of atomic weapons. US President Clinton suggested an agreement to reduce the number and spread of land mines.
Though the world focuses most intently on the UN's peacekeeping role, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali says in his annual report and recent speeches that the primary mission in the next half-century should be economic and social development. Lack of such progress, he says, is a leading cause of war.
His proposed shift of focus strikes a sympathetic chord. Amara Essy, foreign minister of Cote d'Ivoire and the new Assemby president, says many African nations are liberalizing their economies and moving toward political pluralism, but that all of Africa's current problems have economic roots.
Yet when the bloodshed of war appears on world TV screens, pressure on the UN to do something remains strong. The world body currently operates 16 peacekeeping missions at a cost of $3.3 billion a year. It has faced such trouble recently recruiting troop and equipment offers that top peacekeeping officials held a special press briefing a few days ago to explain why it takes so long to get UN troops in place. ``Political will is the key factor - when it's there, there's a way,'' says UN Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Kafi Annan.
That often missing ingredient and the UN's well-publicized lack of muscle has led to a new variety of freelance operations under UN auspices. Russian troops in Georgia, French troops in Rwanda (now departed), and US troops in Haiti are cases in which the Council gave its blessing.
The point is a sensitive one for many UN members. In his speech, Mexico's President Carlos Salinas de Gortari said using force is not valid when world peace is not in danger. Similarly, Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim, foreign minister of Brazil, said new interpretations of the principle of nonintervention contradict the UN charter. The result he said, ``evokes traumas and scars, which are still very vivid in the memory of Latin America.''
In his Sept. 26 speech to the Assembly, US President Clinton insisted that the US has no desire to be ``the world's policeman,'' but that, when US national-security interests are threatened, the US will act alone and use force if it must. He cited the global response to the Rwanda crisis as a remarkable example of the world community joining in a common cause. ``The problem,'' he said, ``is deciding when we must respond and how we shall overcome our reluctance.''
Much of the optimism voiced in the Assemby hall these days is focused more on hope for UN peace efforts than on solid accomplishment. Progress in the Middle East and Northern Ireland and the evolution to a democratic South Africa are the most commonly cited foreign policy successes. Yet only the governmental change in South Africa, a nation long under UN economic sanctions, has any significant link to the UN. | {
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Tax dollars should not go to buy out flooded homes
William Perlman/ The Star-LedgerFloodwaters rush past the Island Park Bridge in Paterson last year
You have to feel bad for the many New Jersey homeowners whose houses have been damaged or destroyed by flooding in recent years. Yes, we should feel compassion for these folks. But we should not give them any state or federal tax dollars.
As reported by The Star-Ledger on Thursday, thousands of homeowners, mostly in northern and central New Jersey, are applying for the government to purchase their homes, which have been damaged or destroyed by repeated flooding.
The appeals represent a record number of people applying for such state and federal help. The upsurge in applications comes on top of the nearly 400 homeowners who received such government help since 1998.
We feel bad for homeowners struggling with flooding, and compassion is a good thing. But it is wrong – morally and fiscally – to use precious taxpayer dollars to bail out individual homeowners who purchased homes in areas ordinarily subject to flooding.
In the first place, unlike federal aid for once-in-a-lifetime disasters, such a bailout is not in response to an unexpected emergency.
“I just can't deal with this anymore,” a Little Falls resident told the Star-Ledger reporter. The woman’s house, located along the Passaic River, “has been hit repeatedly by major flooding since she moved in 15 years ago,” according to the newspaper report. “I love my house,” the woman added, “but I have to get on with my life.”
I suspect that the reporter included this quote, the first in his front-page story, to give a sense of the woman's dire predicament. But as the woman stated, her home has been hit repeatedly by major flooding for the last decade and a half. The flooding is not an unexpected event, calling for emergency help. No, the flooding is a constant and very predictable event, something she likely knew when she purchased her house.
Next, it is bad policy for the government to spend big bucks to help just a few people.
I did the math. As the article states, the government has spent “tens of millions of dollars” to buy out and bulldoze some 400 homes in the last 14 years. Assuming tens of millions of dollars means between $10 million and $100 million, the government is giving between $25,000 and $250,000 to each homeowner.
That is different than the federal government spending money for a highway or a national park in a particular state. Those projects also cost big dollars, but the money benefits many people. Tens of thousands of dollars is not spent on each of just a few individuals.
What would happen, for example, if homeowners in Denver, Colorado, asked the federal government to rescue homeowners harmed by snowstorms? The need would certainly be there, as snow causes tree limbs to fall onto roofs.
But how would it make sense for the federal government to pay money to help those residents? Snowstorms are a fact of life in the Rocky Mountains. It would not be right to use federal tax dollars to bail out those residents.
The unspoken assumption among the New Jersey homeowners is that everybody does it. Everybody feeds at the federal trough. If we don’t get ours, then we will be putting money into the federal kitty without getting something in return. And after all, New Jersey on average pays more in taxes than it receives in return. (True enough, but mostly because salaries, and thus tax rates, are higher here.)
The typical price of the homes in flood-prone areas was not mentioned, but I suspect that many of the homeowners paid somewhat less for their homes because of where they were located. They got a cheaper house because of the expected danger of flooding. Ordinarily, caveat emptor. But these homeowners took advantage of a better deal – and now they want the government to bail them out.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the Star-Ledger story was written so as to tug on the emotions. One homeowner wanting government help, for example, was quoted as saying her situation was “heartbreaking.”
Meanwhile, the story conveyed a sense that government money is a free pot of gold. Homeowners in trouble need only tell a sad story for readers to exclaim – “How can the government be so heartless as to deny these poor folks some relief? Give them some money!”
Unfortunately, there was no mention that taxpayer money isn’t really free. There was no acknowledgement that taxpayer money comes from other taxpayers coughing up their hard-earned cash.
Not surprisingly, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who has never met a piece of domestic federal spending he didn’t like, was mentioned favorably in the story. The New Jersey Democrat announced that he was seeking another $21 million in federal assistance to help beleaguered homeowners.
The problem with this approach to the use of federal tax dollars goes beyond just giving money to homeowners beset by flooding. This same kind of story – how the government can provide “free” services to bail out any and every need – is told by compassionate reporters over and over.
In that telling, federal money is free. (Or it would be, if only “the rich” would pay their “fair share.”) All we need to do to loosen the state and federal purse strings is to tell of a human need in a gripping way.
With the federal government in hock up to its eyeballs (and beyond), this attitude of grab for all the cash you can does not bode well for the nation’s fiscal future. Without a change of attitude, there can be little hope for a return to fiscal sanity. | {
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AMD Ryzen 3 3300X CPU Review
The Ryzen 3 3300X lands three years after the first Ryzen hit the world and AMD is still fighting strong.
Our Verdict
Budget gaming just got a new hero. The Ryzen 3 3300X represents incredible value for money and strong performance across the board.
For
Incredible value and performance
PCIe Gen 4 and Zen 2 architecture
Includes Wraith Stealth cooler
Against
Limited overclocking
Awaiting B550 motherboards
AMD has now launched the Zen 2-powered Ryzen 3 3100 and Ryzen 3 3300X, offering the same core and thread counts but for $99 and $120 respectively. These budget chips might have slightly lower clocks than a $350 Core i7 7700K, but are serious gaming CPUs and come with PCIe 4.0 support, for those speedy M.2 PCIe SSDs. Three years is clearly a long time in computing.
Ryzen 3 3100 specifications
Three years ago AMD released its first Ryzen CPUs into the wild. At that time the top gaming processor was the Core i7 7700K. Intel's 4-core, 8-thread CPU was the go to chip for gaming, and at a reasonable $350 found itself at the top of most CPU buying guides. It was fast in games, and that healthy thread count meant it could turn its hand to what some might call more serious tasks too.
In that time we've seen three generations of Ryzen CPUs, and while it's fair to say the first generation had their issues (patchy memory support and lackluster gaming performance), the latest generation has confined those problems to the history books. AMD Ryzen 3000 CPUs are now in a very good place, and a genuine alternative to Intel throughout the stack.
AMD Ryzen 3000 CPU Stack
Processor
Cores/Threads
Base/Turbo clocks
Cache
TDP
Price
Ryzen 9 3950X
16 / 32
3.5 / 4.7GHz
72MB
105W
$749
Ryzen 9 3900X
12 / 24
3.8 / 4.6GHz
70MB
105W
$499
Ryzen 7 3800X
8 / 16
3.9 / 4.5GHz
36MB
105W
$399
Ryzen 7 3700X
8 / 16
3.6 / 4.4GHz
36MB
65W
$329
Ryzen 5 3600X
6 / 12
3.8 / 4.4GHz
35MB
95W
$249
Ryzen 5 3600
6 / 12
3.6 / 4.2GHz
35MB
65W
$199
Ryzen 3 3300X
4 / 8
3.8 / 4.3GHz
18MB
65W
$120
Ryzen 3 3100
4 / 8
3.6 / 3.9GHz
18MB
65W
$99
Intel does still have the slimmest of edges in gaming, and its imminent Comet Lake Core i9 10900K will hold the title as the 'fastest gaming processor', but only by drawing ungodly amounts of power. Elsewhere Intel has another iteration of its 14nm production node, with the rest of the 10th Gen roundup, which will see its own core counts increase and HyperThreading support make a welcome return across the range. The Core i3 10100 in particular is a dead ringer for these new chips from AMD, with four core and eight threads too.
Into this somewhat odd market, AMD has decided to release a budget-focused pair of chips that punch well above the price weight. Both featuring SMT (Simultaneous Multi-Threading), meaning these quad-core chips are capable of handling eight threads at once. They're basically in the same ballpark as that venerable Core i7 7700K, but cost around a third the price. They don't overclock as well, but that seems like a reasonable hit for the cash being asked.
Apart from the Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X, there's more AMD goodness on the way in the form of the B550 chipset, which should be making its way to an affordable motherboard near you on the 16th June. This is important, because if there is an issue with these CPUs right now, is that in order to get the most from them, you're limited to using an X570 motherboard, which generally start at the $250 mark—double the price of the CPU. You can use an X470 or a B450, but you'll miss out on support for PCIe Gen4 if you do so.
AMD B550 chipset
B450 Chipset
B550 Chipset
X570 Chipset
CPU Graphics Support
x16 PCIe Gen 3
x16 PCIe Gen 4
x16 PCIe Gen 4
CPU Storage Support
PCIe Gen 3
PCIe Gen 4
PCIe Gen 4
CPU USB Ports
USB 3.1 Gen 1
USB 3.2 Gen2
USB 3.2 Gen2
Dual Graphics Support
No
Yes
Yes
General Purpose Lanes
PCIe Gen 2
PCIe Gen 3
PCIe Gen 4
CPU Chipset Uplink
PCIe Gen 3
PCIe Gen 3
PCIe Gen 4
Overclocking Support
Yes
Yes
Yes
There's no indication on the pricing of these B550 motherboards yet, but given B450 motherboards start around the $75 mark, I'm hopeful these will be roughly about the $100-$125 mark. When looking at the value proposition of these chips, that's what I've got in mind, rather than having to drop money on a X570 at the same time.
Both CPUs come with Wraith Stealth Coolers, which are the shortest versions of the Wraith available, and lack the RGB lighting of the top-end coolers, but like all the Wraiths they do the job well. This isn't a cooler designed to handle serious overclocking, but in testing temperatures only reached 66C for the 3300X and only 64C for the 3100 under full load, both of which are absolutely fine. It isn't a noisy cooler either.
One thing that may be of interest to those trying to save cash is Eco Mode, which effectively reduces the TDP (and the performance) of the 3100 and 3300X from 65W down to 45W. Useful if your machine is on all the time or if you simply want to reduce power draw.
Another thing of note is that despite the fact that the Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X have the same number of cores and threads, they are actually configured very differently. The Ryzen 3 3100 has two active cores per CCX, while the Ryzen 3 3300X has all four cores in one CCX (and the other one is redundant). This gives the 3300X a further advantage over the higher clock speeds as there is less potential core-to-core latency.
The Ryzen 3 3100 and Ryzen 3 3300X have very different core configurations. (Image credit: AMD)
Before we get to the testing, a quick note on our benchmarks: The impact of the coronavirus means that a lot of our usual testing hardware is trapped in the office, and like the rest of us, that office is in lockdown. This primarily impacts the graphics card we use for testing, so instead of turning to a 2080 Ti for the usual barrage of benchmarks, we've instead reached for a trusty GTX 1070. We already have comparable results for for some relevant chips, namely the Core i7 7700K (4-core, 8-threads, $350 at launch) and the Core i5 8400 (6-cores, 6-threads, $182 at launch). Intel's 10th Gen processors are on the way though, so expect more benchmarks when they do finally arrive.
(Image credit: AMD)
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(Image credit: Future)
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Ryzen 3 3300X testbed
The takeaway from these benchmarks is that the Ryzen 3 3300X compares favorably to both the 7700K and the 6-core 8400. It scores much higher in serious tests like Cinebench R15, X264 v5.0 and PCMark, while also maintaining the lead in games. Admittedly the difference there is often slight and in some cases within the margin of error, but importantly it isn't any slower.
The Ryzen 3 3100 puts in an impressive show as well, although the core configuration does seem to affect it adversely in gaming. It's still a good chip, but it doesn't quite have the performance chops of its bigger brother. Given there's only $20 between these two CPUs, the Ryzen 3 3300X is just the better option.
Recent Ryzen 3000 processors haven't wowed with their overclocking prowess, and the same is true here. The fact of the matter is that it doesn't really help performance. Both chips are unlocked, so if you do fancy playing around with the clocks to get the most from them, then it is at least an option.
You can overclock in the BIOS, but the AMD Ryzen Master software makes the whole process a little easier. Precision Boost should be your first port of call as that can improve clocks fairly easily, while Auto can potentially push it even further. Alternatively you can enter the murky waters of manual overclocking.
In testing, this is what I saw from trying these out on the 3300X. It's something that I'll revisit, potentially with a beefier cooler, but right now these chips appear to stick to the general ethos that this generation of Ryzen doesn't overclock very well. Importantly though, they don't really need to.
(Image credit: Future)
So in summary, the Ryzen 3 3300X is an impressive chip. AMD has taken its excellent Zen 2 architecture and given it a new lease of life for the budget-conscious gamer. It's fast, supports PCI Express 4.0, has enough cores and threads for current gaming, and doesn't cost the earth. It does need a B550 motherboard to really make the value proposition make sense, but those board should be here very shortly.
Is the Ryzen 3 3300X the best processor ever? No, of course not, it's a budget CPU that has half as many cores as our top recommendation. But that doesn't stop it being an incredible CPU for gaming, and for the money, there's nothing out there right now that's close. In fact the next best thing would be the six-core, 12-thread Ryzen 5 3600. At least that's the case until the Core i3 10100 drops.
Should you consider building a system around the 3300X? Absolutely. Processor pricing has been creeping up for a while now (as the power has increased to be fair), but these two chips reset that. Paired with a budget motherboard, a cheap but speedy SSD, and affordable memory (the faster the better), and you have a great base to plug your graphics card of choice into. Something like an AMD 5600 XT would make for a solid, yet affordable system. | {
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Other Titles by Clive Cussler
Description
Information
Titles in Series
2 CDs.
The past and future collide for Dirk Pitt when he faces his most perilous assignment yet, in 'Valhalla Rising'.
It is July 2003 and the luxury cruise ship "Emerald Dolphin" is on her maiden voyage when she suddenly catches fire and sinks. NUMA special projects director Dirk Pitt races to rescue passengers and investigate this shocking disaster; but he has no idea of the bizarre chain of events - both real and mythical - that are about to engulf him. At the end of it all, though many lives will be lost and many saved, it is Pitt's own life that will be changed forever . . .
Full of dazzling suspense and breathtaking action, 'Valhalla Rising' is Clive Cussler at the height of his storytelling powers.
RRP refers to the Recommended Retail Price as set out by the original publisher at time of release.
The RRP set by overseas publishers may vary to those set by local publishers due to exchange rates and
shipping costs. Due to our competitive pricing, we may have not sold all products at their original RRP. | {
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Let's chalk up some rules before iPads enter every classroom
Jul 17, 2014 by Natalia Kucirkova, The Conversation
Adults and youngsters are willing to queue overnight to get their hands on the latest product release from Apple and children appear to be drawn to iPads because of the immediate feedback they get when they use them.
But as excited as many of us are about how these devices can be used in the classroom, they're still a long way from revolutionising public education.
Tablets certainly have some distinct advantages: they are portable (unlike whiteboards), light-weight (unlike netbooks and laptops), compact and touch-screen (unlike desktop computers) and they offer, so far, the widest range of apps designed for educational purposes.
This software and hardware combo makes them attractive but what really makes teachers excited is the potential to make each lesson tailored towards each individual child's needs. Such personalised learning has been heralded as one of the 21st century's great learning innovations.
However, in all this enthusiasm, we should not gloss over the day-to-day reality. Even in affluent Western countries, iPads are still outside of the budgets of most schools.
In schools where they are used, iPads are a great motivational tool but also harm concentration, as one study of 6,000 pupils in Canada found. Even the students themselves – more than 99% of them – reported they found the tablet a distraction. As for teachers, just one out of the 302 surveyed didn't mention distraction as a "major challenge".
Other schools have found iPads are incompatible with their existing technologies and that security issues have negatively affected their use.
Despite the novel features of iPads, we seem to have forgotten some lessons learnt with previous technologies. Research by Nesta in 2012 found relatively little evidence that technology in schools actually works, considering the money invested. Therefore, to get the best out of iPads we need to think seriously about exactly how they are used as learning tools, and train teachers in the best techniques.
Security lockers and internet firewalls alone won't be good enough to minimise distractions and motivate kids to use their new toys for learning. This is the new technological "playground", and it needs some ground rules. The more we can involve children in making these rules, the easier it will be to uphold them.
Technology and the science of education work together so if we want to see a change, we need to continue develop both. That means not just adding attractive tools like iPads but also devising well-informed guidance for their effective use and integration with the curricular objectives.
Playground rules
We already know a few things that will be needed to make the rules on iPads work well. Some carefully designed studies which look at the intersection of specific technology features with pedagogical principles would be a good start. So that we can reliably say what works, we also need randomised controlled trials and design-based research to allow us to separate assumptions from evidence.
We need more examples of schools where tech solutions have worked. Some steps in this direction have been undertaken, with companies like Airwatch enabling teachers to tailor and customise their lessons using an innovative suite of teacher tools.
And although it has been said before, it bears repeating: we all need to work together. More and more government-funded schemes are trying to encourage collaboration between developers and researchers but these efforts need to be extended to include input from designers, researchers, teachers and parents. All these people are bound by a shared commitment to children and they need to be formally supported to work towards the same goal.
Finally, we need more innovative projects where children are involved in the coding process of the programs they use and where teachers co-design the apps they deploy in classrooms. In other words, we need active participation of all involved, especially children. Because ultimately such joint action will speak louder than words.
We are unlikely to see a revolution, but we can sow some seeds for change if we foster creative thinking and cooperation between all those who care about children and their education.
Kindergarten classes are supplementing crayons, finger paints and flashcards with iPads, a development that excites supporters but that detractors worry is wasted on pupils too young to appreciate the expense.
Michael Gove is ploughing ahead with plans to gather an elite team of computer science experts to help bring coding into schools. He has rightly acknowledged that teaching programming in schools is vital if w ...
Just as students receive report cards at the end of each school year, so too does the United States – and the country's most recent report card paints a bleak picture of the current state of reading instruction. According ...
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How We Do It
Donations are organized in the States, sent to Kuwait with coordination with the US Armed Forces, and then distributed by Army personnel across the Gulf Region. We are working to leverage valuable relationships in Iraq and the surrounding areas to identify areas of need for our equipment drops.
To donate, please contact donate@iraqisoccerproject.org for a nearby collection point.
For more information regarding how to contribute, please visit iraqisoccerproject.org or email info@iraqisoccerproject.org. | {
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} |
“Palestine Legal recently published a report noting that the majority of suppression of Palestine advocacy in the US targets students and faculty. In particular, 89% of such incidents occurred on college campuses in 2014, and 74% in 2019.”
“Forty-four years ago today, the Israeli police shot six Palestinian citizens of Israel dead as they were protesting against the Israeli government’s expropriation of thousands of acres of Palestinian land in the Galilee. Since then, March 30 has been known as Land Day and is an important date in the Palestinian political calendar.”
“I phoned my mother to ask: ‘What were we doing during curfew times in the Intifada?’ My mother laughed, and replied: ‘We baked. A lot.’ Indeed, I remember our house in Ramallah being full of the aromas of all the different cakes.”
“Palestinians are holding their breath as they wait to see if the Palestinian Authority’s desperate attempts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to the city of Bethlehem is working.”
“After U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled his long-awaited ‘peace deal’ for the Israel-Palestine conflict, Sen. Bernie Sanders condemned the proposal as ‘unacceptable’ and called for an end to Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories.”
“ALEX ODEH WAS born in 1944 in British Mandate Palestine to a Christian family in the West Bank village of Jifna, near Ramallah, just four years before the founding of Israel. He immigrated in 1972 to the United States, where he became a spokesperson for the Arab American community, challenging negative portrayals of Middle Easterners and Muslims, which were back then at least as commonplace as they are today.”
“In 1919, Arthur James Balfour, the foreign secretary, wrote that in Palestine, the British government did not ‘propose even to go through the form of consulting the wishes of the present inhabitants of the country’.” | {
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Fillum on Facebook
If everyone is not forgetting, the incident where Akshay asked wife Twinkle to open his jeans button when he walked on ramp, this let to controversies and the couple had to see a case filed against them for vulgarity,
After that just because Salman requested, Akshay walked on ramp for Being Human, otherwise Akshay has said no to any shows offer,
This time also the brand owners had tough time to convince Akshay to walk on ramp for them, and finally Akshay has said yes, its a vest brand he has endorsee. For this Akshay has come with an idea of wearing a TShirt that says ‘No Controversies Please’.
Source Said,
The company had a very tough time convincing Akki to walk the ramp again. Last time, when he walked at a fashion show, he and Twinkle were booked and arrested for obscenity.
Later on, he was heard telling his friends that anybody could get up and do anything even if he did something funny with one’s own wife!
After that incident, a wary AK refused to walk the ramp for any shows. He only walked for Being Human once because Salman Khan requested him to.
For today’s event, he will be wearing a specially made T-shirt with ‘No Controversies Please’ printed on it in bold letters. It was his idea to wear such a tee. And no, Twinkle won’t attend the event. | {
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This course caters to education students who are taking EDUC 221. The delivery of this course is being administered using a blended modality to provide students with the opportunity to share ideas both face-to-face and online | {
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This is in great condition and appears to have been taken care of. The power supply has been cut, and it is therefore untested. All 4 Electron tubes are still intact. They are RCA 811A tubes. The item "Gonset GSB-101 Model 3262 Linear Ham Radio Amplifier for Untested with Tube CLEAN" is in sale since Thursday, July 19, 2018. This item is in the category "Consumer Electronics\Radio Communication\Ham, Amateur Radio\Ham Radio Amplifiers". The seller is "toad_ps2" and is located in Spokane, Washington. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Israel, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
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Author
Topic: Lever action 22 (Read 131403 times)
What I really like about the Marlin is, you can shoot .22 short, long and long rifle out of them. Brownings are nice, but in terms of quality AND accuarcy AND ruggedness, it's hard to beat the Marlin.
Logged
To you gutless cowards and scumbags, who are trying to lie and rewrite history. To those out to commit genocide on the Southern people with your destruction of Confederate monuments and your attacks on Southern heritage and pride. Be happy for now. Because someday when that civil war you wanted starts. I will find you. And I will kill you.
When I was young I remember Browning had some real nice lever action .22's and they were made in Belgium. My thing was that a .22 is a gun you buy to use all the time and it's going to take some serious knocks, and the thought of a Belgium Browning being abused was just too much for my plebeian mind to accept. I've seen the Marlin shoot against the Browning and they're both killers, but at the end of the day, I'd rather have the Marlin since if I put a few knicks or scratches on the gun I wouldn't lose my mind like I would if I did the same thing to my Browning.
Logged
To you gutless cowards and scumbags, who are trying to lie and rewrite history. To those out to commit genocide on the Southern people with your destruction of Confederate monuments and your attacks on Southern heritage and pride. Be happy for now. Because someday when that civil war you wanted starts. I will find you. And I will kill you. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
This cottage style bedroom offers classic elegance that will stand the test of time. The furniture pieces are all painted black for a striking and simple style, and the paint is rubbed away to create a slightly worn finish. #traditionaldecor #paintedfurniture #orientalrugs #inspirationboard #cottagebedroom http://distinctblog.wpengine.com/
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Looking for ideas to decorate your entryway? This inspiration board pulls together different pieces, like benches, an accent table, rugs, and throw pillows for a cozy and practical lake house entryway. #farmhouselook #lakehousedecor #lakehouse #lodgedecor http://distinctblog.wpengine.com/
Both driftwood and whitewashed furniture finishes are gaining popularity and demand in today’s decorating trends. Whether it is a modern living room, or a rustic dining room, these finishes fit in everywhere. #driftwoodwashcottage #driftwoodwash #coastaldecor #cottagedecor http://thedistinctivecottage.com
This adorable cottage style kid’s bedroom is full of color making it a fun and exciting place for them to be. #brightkidsrooms #colorfulkidsrooms #decoratingwithcolor #cottagestylekidsrooms http://thedistinctivecottage.com
Creating a graceful and soothing dining room is easy when working with a palette like this! The medley of sea foam greens, sage, robin’s egg blue, sand, and white has a relaxing effect in this understated room. A clean and simple dining room does not have to mean using all neutral tones. This is a great example of putting together a classic look without shying away from all color.
The Lake Pontchartrain Cabinet is an organizer’s dream, offering endless storage in a stylish way. The large bins are perfect for off season table and bed linens, while the drawers are small enough to house sewing needles, thread, and button jars. And everyone needs a place to fold laundry! The sky blue console table is the perfect size to properly spread out and fold piles of laundry. This piece also has shelves that are big enough to nicely fit baskets for additional storage.
What better way to rest after a long day hiking, swimming, or fishing than in a cozy cabin bedroom? The stately bed sets the tone for the fantastic rustic theme seen throughout the lake house bedroom, while the accent colors of warm brown, red, and blue reflect the woodsy atmosphere found outdoors. A kaleidoscope of earth tones are found in the braided rug, which enhance the warm and inviting feel of this restful room. And don’t forget the adorable moose accent pillow that adds a dose of country charm!
ABOUT US
Hello, we are the Cottage Home design team. Our passion is finding the perfect sofa for an awkward space,
or creating a cozy nook where there was once a bare space. We love all things design and are excited to share our passion with you! | {
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How To Compost: Everything You Need To Know To Start Composting, And Nothing.........- Kindle Books- Free
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I just watched an incredible movie. I’ve been writing an immigration feature the last few days and between the day job and Qdoba, I’ve been really busy. Tonight, as I’ve turned in the story, I’m relaxing with some red wine and my latest Blockbuster arrival. This article is not an opinion column, like I write for the Journal Sentinel, but an actual newsy feature. It’s kind of a big deal because it’s the first non-opinion piece I have ever had published.
Anyway, I occasionally put movies in my Blockbuster online queue that I know nothing about, just because I like one of the actors, or the director. I’m not sure when I added “Dirty Pretty Things,” but I know I didn’t realize it was about the underground lives of illegal immigrants in London.
So, ironically, the film is about my pet topic, the issue I know most about politically, yet set in another land, where, if the things in this movie are based on the truth, the situation for illegal immigrants is far more dangerous and unstable.
The film, starring Amelie‘s Audrey Taotou and British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor is dark and deeply moving, but not so overwhelming that you finish with a sinking sickness in your stomach, which is how I feel when I see certain movies about politics, religion, and the sad state of certain places and peoples of the world. In addition, the characters are colorful and sympathetic, and by the end, you are cheering for both their sorrows and triumphs.
Oh, and I should add, I pulled the words for this title from the character Guo Yi in the movie.
I just completed an interesting exercise in organization and memory. When I relocated my blog to wordpress from blogger (exactly one year ago), all my old posts were brought over and dumped into the “uncategorized” category. I guess I’ve never been quite bored enough to categorize them until today. In order to put them into categories such as “friends,” “daily grind,” or whatever, I had to open all those old posts and at least skim them.
It’s kind of a journey through the most confusing time of my life reading some of those posts. There was a lot of joy there, with new love and marriage, being a home-owner and moving into a new form of independent adulthood, but also a lot of spiritual wrestling, things that I suppose I ponder less and less these days, as I settle into being a strange breed of non-practicing Christian, an almost agnostic who still believes in the teachings of Jesus but doesn’t really believe Christianity as it is taught in most American churches is true. That long phrase, is, unfortunately, the best way I can describe my faith right now. It’s not simple. It doesn’t fit in a box. It’s okay.
I noticed back a year or so I wrote a lot about getting back to writing. Today, with having traded my restaurant career for an utterly unstressful job, I see endless opportunities out there, thanks also to some classes, the community columnist experience, and a recent writer’s festival. I’ve had a revelation in the last few weeks that I should pursue writing about immigration-related issues. I am acquainted with, albeit via the internet, a whole host of people with interesting stories that could be covered.
Last week I queried a few of the Madison papers with a story of someone I met on Immigrate2US.net and was contacted three days later to write the story. I will post the link when it is published. I don’t want to give away all the details of this couple’s story. It will be, I hope, the best thing I have had published thus far in my life. Following that I will be pursuing some larger outlets with a truly tragic story of one of the women on another immigration board, whose husband was murdered in Mexico recently while separated, him waiting out the waiver process for almost a year, while she stayed in the U.S., working and caring for their two children. It’s an amazing opportunity to stress the oft-ignored family unity clauses in current immigration law.
I don’t know where this is all taking me, but I have so many writing-related ideas right now I can hardly entertain them all, and while I’ve always loved to write, I’ve never had nearly the number of practical and feasible opportunities to do it as I do right now.
All this has been made possible by my career change, and I can’t express how glad I am about it, despite still loving the 10-15 hours a week I am currently working at Qdoba. Those hours are my link back to the time my whole life changed, the months after graduation, working at Chin’s with Fermin, the setting of my spiritual crises, the activity, the excitement, and outlet for my leadership skills. After a frustrating stint at another store, I’m back working at my favorite Qdoba, the busy one on Highway 100 and Bluemound Road, the one I loved working at before I was promoted and started the long, unsatisfying role of being a General Manager. It’s good memories there, and strangely, many customers who I no longer recognize seem so pleasantly surprised to see me, even asking where I have been for the past two years.
This weekend, my friends Joe and Rachel stepped way out of the box by hosting a yacht-rock themed double birthday party on St. Patrick’s Day. And let me say, it was great.
I could never pull off a themed party. I dread baby showers, all that pink and yellow and those games, God help me the next time I have to dig through a diaper full of melted chocolate, I hate them. When someone tells me they are going to a bridal shower, I have to control my instinct to smirk (because I don’t have to go) or make a sour face (because I am imagining all those hideous bows and ribbons tied into a paper plate).
Maybe I can’t help it. After emerging from several years of adolescence living with my dad and younger brother, I never really recovered until college, when I discovered, it’s cool to embrace some traditionally female habits. I went through a very brief period of liking the color pink, about the time I started dating Fermin, but those days are long gone.
Today I enjoy gardening and cooking, but I’ve never wanted to dress up for any sort of costume party or organize activities for a group of people. I’m 28, and as I’ve done all my life, I let my hair air dry on my day to work (or wherever), and spend exactly three minutes putting make-up on in the morning. I do, however, thoroughly enjoy buying shoes, and jeans…
My point is, many of the finer points of being a traditionally good woman, like hostess abilities, following traditions and social rules are totally lost on me. This may all be related to my issues with tradition. Like, getting married at the Courthouse in Milwaukee and never regretting it, especially after hearing many new-bride friends talk about their weddings.
In fact, every time a close friend navigates their wedding planning and execution (which has basically been constantly for about eight years now) I take a moment to reassess my feelings about weddings, about whether I feel I missed out. And surprisingly, to myself anyway, I never feel I have.
But back to yacht rock, perhaps the reason I so look forward to Joe and Rachel’s parties is that they are so different. I mean, they are planning a Canada Day party for God’s sake, how hip is that? And while I have no idea how they came up with the idea of theming a party around smooth rock (think Steely Dan) and nautically themed beers, I know it will never be done again, or at least I will never be invited to one again.
Besides that, there is no pretention at these parties. When you come up with an idea so equally fresh and preposterous, it hardly evokes your cousin’s last baby shower. You can come wearing, say, jeans and a t-shirt, or, plaid (think rainbow colors) cotton shorts, a maroon polo, a horrid blue suit jacket topped off with a captain’s hat and white tennies circa 1988. You can drink beer from cans, neon wine coolers, or a martini. And nobody cares.
This is also the beauty of having a healthy number of journalist-types among one’s friends. They are inteligent and well-read, but usually bitter and jaded enough by their mid-20s to be down-to-earth, fun companions. I became bitter and jaded with many of them, so we get along well.
The last few months I’ve been helping a friend out with her web site, which is kind of humorous, because I know next to nothing about web design. She was looking for a simple, cheap way to get a nice-looking web site to help start up her personal chef business, and after talking it over with a few people, she decided to try to use a blog format.
I love wordpress, especially after using blogger, and had just had enough experience with the basics of it to help her along. It turned into more work than expected, but it was a great project to jump-start my desire to learn a little more html and CSS. During this process, I decided to purchase my own CSS upgrade, so I can play around with my own site here and there. Moral of the story, you may be seeing construction for a while. Oh, and please check out our handiwork at your leasure, especially if you are needing a personal chef in Milwaukee.
What I really wanted to share with anyone reading this late Friday afternoon, however, is the beauty of dooce. I discovered dooce a few months ago after checking out the links on Rachel‘s page, and was instantly impressed with her exquisitely crafted wit and sarcasm. I’ve been hooked on her blog ever since.
Yesterday, after having a crappy day at work, when I realized I was not getting nearly the commission check I expected (long, irritating story), I read her new post on hate mail (she gets like 100,000 hits a day or something ridiculous like that). I made the mistake of sipping water as I read and almost spit it all over my keyboard a few times. My co-workers were also stressed out about the commission situation, so I happily introduced them to dooce, so they could laugh out loud at their desks too. So, if you need a laugh, a little pick-me-up, please enjoy.
Disclaimer: dooce is both irreverant and at times vulgar, and I love every word of it! | {
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A Digest of Political, Economic, Cultural and Historical News from Poland
"Be Not Afraid!" ... John Paul II
Important issues analyzed in-depth by Poland's foremost experts.
“Russian intelligence services activated all of their media, agent-of-influence, and business assets in Poland” reports ABW, the Polish Internal Security Agency.
Published: May 21, 2015
Maciej Sankowski’s analysis of the ABW (Polish Internal Security Agency) 2014 report, published on Defence24 website, reveals that Russian intelligence has made a wide-scale attempt to consolidate its pro-Russian assets in Poland. Mr. Sankowski says, that unfortunately, the ABW 2014 report has not attracted the media attention it deserves. “There is no doubt that this specific report is the most unambiguous, powerful, and at the same time, the most interesting of all the ABW’s annual reports published thus far,” emphasizes Sankowski.
The report makes references to the events beyond the Polish borders as well; primarily to the situation in Ukraine. In this instance, the report illustrates attempts to give prominence to, and to emphasize, tough times in the shared Polish-Ukrainian history in order to incite conflicts and disagreements in mutual relations between both nations. The authors of the report state that Brussels played a key role in the Russian intelligence operations against Poland, primarily aimed at discrediting the Polish stance on the Russian aggression towards Ukraine. Further more, it draws attention to the statements made by those Polish politicians, and experts, who questioned the entire course of the Polish foreign policy.
The report confirms that this is the first time the Russian Federation intelligence has attempted such a wide-scale consolidation of the pro-Russian assets across Poland.
“Simply speaking, the Russian intelligence has activated all socially and politically varied interest groups. Interestingly enough, the views that openly support Kremlin’s policies have also made numerous appearances in the Polish mainstream media,” says Mr. Sankowski.
He continues to point out, that in addition to overt manipulations of the existing media outlets, a new, and openly pro-Kremlin, news outfit called Sputnik, has recently made its appearance on the Polish media scene. The Sputnik allied itself with the Hobby, a local radio station from the Polish region of Legionowo. The Hobby is contracted to disseminate Russian-made productions in the Polish language.
Sankowski emphasizes that the station co-opted a number of public figures with diverse social and political views, including Artur Zawisza (extreme right-wing politician), Piotr Fogler (a keen supporter of the Polish Civic Platform, PO) or Agnieszka Wołk Łaniewska (a journalist for the NIE weekly).
Mr. Sankowski also emphasizes that Russian Federation foreign intelligence services intensified their lobbying activities on behalf of Russian businesses operating on the Polish market. “Lobbying is yet another tool for the Russian intelligence and GRU (the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate) that is used overtly and covertly,” says Sankowski.
Here, as an example, the author uses the case of the Russian Acron Group, that tried to take over strategically-important Polish nitrogen company, the Azoty Group. Although the case of Acron is the most familiar, it is not the only one that was to test Poland’s integrity. Other similarly extravagant incidents occurred within the nuclear energy and power plants sectors, but their details remain undisclosed.
In order to sabotage any attempts of shale gas extraction in Poland, Russia has undertaken a wide variety of activities (including media manipulation, lobbying and political influence) at the European level. Mr. Sankowski emphasizes that active attempts to effect changes in the legislature, and unusual interest in the activities of the Polish Parliament, have also been noted. In this instance, the Russian interest went far beyond of what is considered an ordinary monitoring, as it enlisted Russian intelligence personnel to carry out these activities.
The case of Leonid Sviridov, a Russian correspondent for the Ria Novosti, is yet another example of Poland’s integrity being tested. Based on the ABW’s findings, Sviridov lost his Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs accreditation; followed by the annulment of his right to a permanent stay in Poland, and despite the Russian Ambassador’s intervention in his defense. Sviridov’s activities went well beyond journalistic standards.
For example, he engaged in the lobbying activities for Acron, which aimed to take over the above mentioned Polish nitrogen company, Azoty Group. During the course of his “journalistic endeavors”, Sviridov organized trips for journalists, and took active part in establishing pro-Russian groups to influence the Polish media. Sankowski is of opinion, that an attempt at Svirinov’s deportation is deeply meaningful, even just to show that Poland will not tolerate such a behavior. The fact that his deportation is likely to cause Russia to retaliate and have one of the Polish correspondents working in Moscow expelled, is a different matter.
According to the 2014 ABW report, the number of incidents and attacks on the Polish government information infrastructure has notably increased. It notes, that 7,500 out of 12,000 reported cases have been identified as actual break-in attempts.
What the Defence24 website finds interesting, is that ABW spells out that it is not only the number of the attacks that have risen, but also their sophistication. This means that these attacks have become more persistent, last longer, and that they are based on modern, and advanced computer science. The principal targets of these attacks are Polish government institutions and the energy industry.
Source: wpolityce.pl
Translation: JD
Other Articles
The crisis of Polish mining industry
The government's plan for the "healing" of the situation in the Polish mining sparked a wave of indignation in the mining community and sparked discussion in Poland on subsidies for Polish mines.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views the PolandCurrentEvents.com. All information is provided on an as-is basis, and all data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Poland Current Events DOT COM makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. | {
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ENVS Alum Helps Urban Farmers Grow Healthy Food
January 03, 2012
Clair Cummings ('11) and other volunteers work to produce healthy food within city limits.
LeDroit Park, Washington DC
Since September, alumna Claire Cummings (‘11) has been working with a group called Citizen Effect to raise money for the Common Good City Farm project. Citizen Effect produced a short film about Claire’s efforts to help families improve their lives by farming (right there in Washington, DC!) and eating nutritious food. | {
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The 23-year-old star also warned hopefuls that there’s a number of audition rounds, telling Capital Breakfast listeners: ‘You have to go in a couple of times,’ she explained, ‘they contact you, you have to do a full-on interview.’
Metro.co.uk have contacted Jane’s rep for comment.
Love Island is set to return to ITV2 later this year.
Got a showbiz story?
If you've got a story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk Entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you. | {
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A wellness message for Cesar Chavez Day
UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Paul Alivisatos, Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion Oscar Dubón, and Chief People and Culture Officer Eugene Whitlock sent the following message to faculty and staff on Friday:
Tomorrow is Cesar Chavez Day, a holiday honoring the principles of fairness, social justice, and the struggle for equity in the workplace and all of society. As we continue to adjust to our new reality created by COVID-19, both with respect to work and our personal lives, it is more important than ever to pause and think about the broader values and personal meaning that this day represents. Managers should encourage all employees (unless required to perform emergency services) to take the time to rest, reflect and renew. We offer special recognition to those who continue to maintain our critical campus operations during this crisis and who support the most vulnerable members of our community.
These are uncertain times. As the news and guidance around COVID-19 change and intensify, it is normal to feel overwhelmed and experience stress and anxiety. The current circumstances are particularly difficult for those who do not have necessary resources, or for whom home or the location of shelter is not physically or psychologically safe.
Please know that despite social distance, you are not alone. Campus resources are still available for you, including those listed at the end of this message. We also invite you to compassionately support others, as you are able. Everyone deserves support.
We are so grateful for how Berkeley staff and faculty are finding time to come together with their colleagues in healthy and creative ways during this crisis. We encourage you to read this Berkeley News article about how some of our community members are connecting via virtual happy hours, online art classes, livestreamed yoga sessions, and more. The central campus is looking into other methods of bringing us together while we’re physically apart, and is collecting suggestions for how to make the best of our current situation. We encourage you to view and take part in these efforts.
With best wishes for your well-being on Cesar Chavez Day, and all those to follow.
Wellness Resources
Employees can access free, confidential support from a licensed mental health professional through Be Well at Work – Employee Assistance. Appointments, including phone and video options, can be scheduled:
The PATH to Care Center offers confidential and free support around sexual assault, sexual harassment, interpersonal violence, stalking, and invasion of sexual privacy. Most advocacy is taking place remotely, but accompaniments to medical care, court, and law enforcement are still available. These services are available for all employees and students.
People and Culture Resources
The campus has set up a Job Exchange program to allow supervisors and managers to (1) request additional support from staff and student employees, and (2) identify staff and student employees who are currently underutilized and may be able to support other operations on campus.
We’ve also built a curated list of the most popular People and Culture resources to help with working remotely, including tips and tools related to telecommuting, managing teams, leave agreements and much more. | {
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1.) The best place for talking about stereotypes.
And the best way to defend ourselves is not to have to. For our message and our lives to be so clear and so well-known, that we never have to try to defend ourselves.
The idea there is that we’re inoculating people against the stereotypes. (When they’re not true, anyway.)
But that has a major exception: People who don’t know us at all. People whose perceptions are formed by what they see on TV or read on the internet. And something about those venues seems to propagate stereotypes. For instance, “Christians being Christ-like” isn’t likely to make the news. (Even Fox News.) What’s more likely to make the news is when a prominent Christian sticks his foot in his mouth. And then there’s the Internet, where what sticks out are the flame wars and loudmouths.
That’s probably the best situation for pointing out the stereotypes, assuming we can do it without whining–when we’re dealing with people who just don’t know conservative Christians. (Inoculation works better to prevent stereotypes, than to cure stereotypes.)
Still, though—as much as possible, I want to fix the stereotypes simply by being clearly Christ-like and Christ-honoring in our words and deeds, pointing to Him and the truth He taught.
2.) “Bad” stereotypes that aren’t really bad.
Sometimes, the “bad” stereotypes are true—but they’re not actually bad! That happens in two ways:
Christ offended a lot of people. If we’re doing everything exactly right, and communicating Him well, then He’s going to offend them through us. Sometimes. (And other times, His goodness & love overwhelms.)
Misunderstood or poorly-done truths. Take evangelism. We’re stereotyped as being into “proselytism”. Which is true. (Depending on your definition of “proselytism”.) But sometimes, the”bad” stereotype comes from evangelism done poorly. Or evangelism misunderstood. (What if people see evangelism as, “Join my religious club” instead of “Know and understand Christ, and the stunning grace of what he has done”? What if they see televangelists inviting people to receive Jesus and send in their money?)
So the answer here is pretty much the same. Speak and live clearly. And make sure that if people are offended, they are being offended by Christ–not by us.
Further Reading
Summer White is the daughter of Dr. James R. White, of Alpha & Omega Ministries. She recently blogged about an experience at her college, dealing with stereotypes. You might check it out–how well do you think she handled it?
Dan Kimball comes from the more conservative wing of the Emerging Church. The title is pretty expressive. I liked this book, though I’m not claiming it’s perfect. (It’s been a while since I read it, so I don’t clearly recall what there might be to criticize.) It’s worth reading, especially if you keep in mind a couple things: (1) The “Jesus” people often like is a watered-down Jesus—a pop Jesus who only ever says nice things, except when he’s cutting down religious conservatives. (2) When Kimball talks about areas where people “like Jesus but not the Church”, he is not saying that the church is necessarily doing something wrong there. He does advocate correcting misunderstandings.
In the previous entry from this series, I mentioned stereotypes—in this case, how conservatives are stereotyped as narrow-minded, as selfish, as hateful, or as smug, Pharisaical, self-righteous judgmental jerks. So… What do we do with that? How should we respond? (Edit: I’ll say up front that sometimes the stereotypes are true. And I should add that this would apply to dealing with any kind of stereotype–including conservative stereotypes about liberals.)
I have a few thoughts—an overarching perspective, and then a list of miscellaneous points.
It’s going to involve a combination of words & actions. Words to point out the stereotyping, words to communicate what we mean & believe, and actions in keeping with what we say. I’m not precisely sure what the balance should be between them, but I suspect it should and lean toward latter two. (“They’re stereotyping us” isn’t an inherently interesting or helpful subject. Talking about Christ, the Gospel, and the Scriptures is—along with acting like Christ.)
And the best way to defend ourselves is not to have to. For our message and our lives to be so clear and so well-known, that we never have to try to defend ourselves. For people to be so familiar with us that they know who we are. For us to be so pervasively, consistently Christ-like, clearly communicating the Gospel, that we cannot be unjustly stereotyped.
And of course, that assumes that the stereotypes are unjust. Which isn’t always the case! (We all live out stereotypes, sometimes.)
Thoughts to ponder:
How often is there truth in the stereotypes? How often are there real negative experiences behind people’s bad perceptions of Christianity and/or conservatives? How compelling will such people find it when we simply insist that we’re not really like that? (Counter-thought: How often are people oversensitive about their past experience? How often do they use it as an excuse to broadbrush?)
Talking about the stereotypes is limited in its usefulness. “They’re stereotyping us” is helpful if done right, but we have to be careful that it doesn’t become complaining or whining. After all…if the stereotypes are true, we’ll spend a lot more time & energy decrying “them dang lib’rals & the lib’ral media” than we’ll spend talking about Christ and bearing fruit in service & love.
It will be hypocritical for us to complain about the stereotypes, if we don’t do a good job of cleaning house, seeking to be above reproach. I don’t know if actions speak louder than words, but they’re sure important for backing them up. (Along those lines, see the previous entry on service.)
We need to be clear that we truly see ourselves as fellow sinners in need of a savior. We need to be clear that the Gospel is not, “Become a church-goer—be better, like us.” That the Gospel is what Christ did for us—the gift of redemption, received by simple, humble, repentant, God-seeking faith.
Paul said in Romans 2, “you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.“ He’s talking about hypocrisy–doing what you criticize in other people.
Recently I’ve become increasingly aware of how often and how easily we fall into that. With the best of intentions, we can wind up being hypocritical in practically everything. It just slips in under our radar.
Examples
1.) Charity Police
If you read many blogs on the internet, you will find people who speak very uncharitably–they’re constantly unnecessarily harsh in tone and unreasonable in how they interpret others. You will also find people who are obsessed with accusing others of being uncharitable. You can call them charity police. And those guys can be some of the least charitable people around–accusing others of uncharity at the drop of a hat or the slightest hint of language that isn’t excessively polite. Majorly unreasonable & oversensitive.
We should be gracious with each other in addressing their mistakes–including mistakes of style. And we shouldn’t be too quick to assume the worst.
Charity police can be the least charitable people on the internet.
2.) Liberals & stereotyping.
(Note: Everyone does this kind of thing, but there’s an extra element of hypocrisy when self-professed liberal people do it.)
As a general simplification: The Liberal Ideal includes being open-minded & tolerant.
So it’s particularly unfortunate when a self-described liberal broadbrushes conservatives–as narrow-minded, as selfish, as hateful, or as smug, Pharisaical, self-righteous judgmental jerks. When a liberal thinks in stereotypes, seeing us through the filter of their preconceived ideas about us–without engaging & exploring & knowing us.
It’s frustrating being pigeonholed by someone who tells you how open-minded they are.
(I think the Prop 8 Musical is a good example of this. More about that in…Uh, I think it’ll be Pt 5. And I think my next entry will discuss what our response should be to this kind of stereotyping.)
Underlying Problems & Solutions
In a general sense, this happens because we’re messed-up, sinful people. Even in our attempts to be good or identify good, we get twisted around. And the solution will involve prayer, and humility, and being graceful toward each other when we screw up like this. But I want to try to be a little more specific.
Problem #1: A comfortable lack of introspection
We start to rest on our laurels. To be comfortable. We form an image of ourselves, and live in the image, unaware of whether we’re living up to it. We stop examining ourselves for consistency. We begin to live without integrity.
If you haven’t yet, listen to the mp3 of Carson talking about integrity–our struggle when we see that who we are on in the inside isn’t the same as who we try to be on the outside. Here’s the mp3. Go to 1:05:20, and listen for about 4.5 minutes.
So, accept that you’re going to be a hypocrite sometimes. Commit to finding out where it’s happening. Commit to the struggle. Keep examining yourself against the principles you claim to follow. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, and commit to the humility of Christ.
Problem #2: Keeping score vs. the Gospel
The more we compete & try to keep score—winning arguments, or proving our worth—the more likely we are to form lying images in our minds. The more we think that our salvation depends on keeping the rules & being “good people”, the more likely we are to cling to a positive image of ourselves. And the less likely we are to probe our own life & heart, to find the inconsistencies.
If we live in a place of freedom—knowing that our hope is based on what Christ did—then it becomes easier to admit the problems, to look for more failures, and ask for grace from God to help us change.
And our lives proceed from our hearts. So when we pray for change, we have to pray for a change of heart. It means looking more to the life of Jesus, and falling in love with what we see. The change grows from the longing that God gives us to see his goodness, and taste it in our own lives. The change grows from the belief that it will be worth it to change, even when it’s hard & involves sacrifice. “He who loses his life for my sake will find it.”
And the change will come from God’s strength & goodness, not ours. “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13) I started this series from Romans 1-2; when we get to Romans 7, we find Paul talking about this kind of struggle with inconsistency. And in Romans 8, we find the words of blessed assurance that if we are in Christ, we will be made more like him–that he will be the firstborn of many brothers. He searches our hearts, and knows what is there, which should be scary–but he is bending all of history, everything in our lives, to change us.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, becausethe Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Rom. 8:26-30)
In the previous entry, I talked about how the Gospel should be at the center of anything we say about homosexuality–and this includes stressing the point that we are all sinners, and no one has the right to feel self-righteous. It’s interesting that Paul makes precisely that point when he talked about it.
Romans 1
Paul talks about homosexuality in Rom. 1:26-27, and then lists other sins in Rom. 1:28-32–like gossip and disobedience to parents. So, I started pointing that out, when I wanted to show that–biblically–homosexuality is a sin among other sins. To show that everyone–including me–stands condemned in the same way. No one can be self-righteous.
It’s odd. For some reason, I didn’t notice that Paul seems to be making exactly that point. Then recently, it clicked. When he lists “big” sins with “small” sins, he almost seems to bait a trap for the smugly self-righteous–letting the readers feel comfortable for a moment, before cutting them low. (Though… See the P.S. at the end of the entry.)
Lately, I’ve been encountering the combined subjects of homosexuality, hypocrisy, and shallow interaction. I started writing one entry on homosexuality in Romans 1-2, but it ballooned, and became too much for one post. So this will be the first in a small series. (Hopefully, I can keep each post terse! It’s hard for me to be brief.)
The major theme will be “going deeper”. Which is pretty tough to do, consistently.
The Bible & Homosexuality
The biblical passages on homosexuality evoke strong reactions. Many people see them as harsh & mean-spirited. They’re associated with a self-righteous attitude of condemnation–a mindset that looks down on homosexuals as the worst of all sinners. A mindset that ostracizes and rejects. A mindset that doesn’t understand, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”
Slogans
There are standard evangelical responses. The most common soundbite is, “Love the sinner, and hate the sin.” Unfortunately, it has two major problems.
It’s a slogan–one that’s easy to spit out, regardless of whether there is any love in your life. It’s something Christian kids learn to say, without necessarily learning what it really looks like. So it can sound empty and hollow. Especially if people have been hurt by those who say it without living it.
More importantly: It almost implies a lie. It almost implies that gay people are sinners–unlike us. It does nothing to counteract the bad assumption that gay people go to hell, but straight people are fine. As though gay people are unique, as sinners, instead of everyone being in the same boat. Self-righteous condemnation.
Canned Answers
There are better slogans, maybe. (“We’re all sinners in need of a savior.” “Jesus said, ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged,’ but he also said, ‘Go and sin no more.’”) Pithy statements can be useful. Canned answers can help. But not when the canned answer reflects canned thinking. Not when the deeper truths aren’t deeply grasped, and lived out. Not when the only thing people hear is canned answers.
So we need to make sure that we know the truths behind the slogans, and that we live in accord with them. Our lives should be adorning the gospel.
Responding With the Gospel
When we talk about homosexuality, at the very core we need to be communicating the gospel. We need to be pointing to the universal need for salvation, and to the work of Christ to save us. To the need for repentance, to the need for trust in him, and to the power & sufficiency of trusting him, apart from any of our efforts to live well.
We’re sinners in need of a savior. Christians shouldn’t view ourselves as “righteous”, and scorn homosexuals as lowly sinners–everyone is together a sinner. And “not judging” doesn’t mean that we never say, “That’s wrong.” Rather, it means not condemning–we speak God’s grace to fellow sinners. In love. There’s no place for self-righteousness. When Christians understand Christ, then we respond with humility and grace and love and the free offer of the gospel. We look with love and care, in part because we know that we ourselves have been forgiven much.
When we understand the gospel, we cannot look down on anyone.
Wrap-up
We need to get past slogans. Or we need to put meat on the slogans we profess. It includes communicating the gospel more clearly. That includes rooting out any hint of self-righteousness. It includes avoiding the perception of being noxious, holier-than-thou “Religious Types”, by living out lives of Christ-like, loving, humble service.
Michael Patton over at Parchment and Pen has been doing a series called, “Why I Am Not Charismatic”. He seems to be roughly in the “open but cautious” area. His thoughts–along with the comment sections–have been well worth the reading time, for anyone trying to think through & understand the subject. (It’s still in-progress, BTW.)
If you’ve really got a lot of time, I would also recommend the series that Frank Turk (of the Pyromaniacs) wrote this fall. It began with a discussion of John Piper’s response to the Lakeland Revival, and went on from there. Compared to the P&P series, you’ll find that the tone of the discussion there will be a harder line against charismatics. If you’re charismatic, then you’ll probably end up being annoyed or offended at some of the comments. But there’s definitely some thoughtful material there. (Note: He never finished the last post.)
As a taste, here’s some of what he said in his second post:
I want to start with something I said in the meta a while ago which, I think, people need to keep in mind as we approach the question of how the Holy Spirit works in the church.
My opinion is that a “cautious” continualist and a “cautious” cessationist have way more in common that they have in contention. They agree that prayer is efficacious; they agree that God is the giver of all good things; they agree that the Christian has a privilege to ask God for his needs; they agree that we should rejoice when God supplies those needs.
The problem is when someone claims more than that, or less than that. I would say that those who fall outside of those affirmations put themselves in spiritual danger — a topic about which I am sure I have more I should write down.
As I’ve looked at the gift of tongues, I’ve found out that there’s a lot to work through. More than you might expect. The questions can get really complex. I want to find the straight-forward answers… But I want answers that seem to satisfy everything the Bible says about the gift.
I decided to write down all the questions & issues I can identify–every decision you have to make about the subject. What do you have to work through, when you’re studying it? Some of these have to do with the nature of the gift, and others are practical questions. Some are directly exegetical–about understanding a particular passage–and others are more general.
Note: Some of these questions have simple answers. Some seem like they have simple answers, but don’t. And maybe some seem complex to me, but they really aren’t.
Also Note: I’ve been sitting on this entry for a week or two, tweaking it & improving it. I’m still not entirely happy with it… There are parts that might not be clear enough. But I can’t keep fiddling forever.
Invitation: If you can think of any additional questions, please, leave a comment. I’d like to make this as exhaustive as possible!
I. Summary: The Biggest Questions
Is the gift of tongues still given today?
Can all believers speak in tongues?
Should all believers speak in tongues?
Are tongues always directed to God, i.e. prayer or praise? Or does it include messages to other people?
The gift of tongues seems to involve some kind of unlearned language. But is it a heavenly language–a “private prayer language”, i.e. glossalalia–or is it speaking in an unlearned human language? Or does it include both?
Can you understand your own gift, when you speak it? Always? Ever?
How are interpreted tongues to be practiced in church? 1 Cor. 14:28 says, “if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church“. How do you know if there’s someone to interpret?
This spring, when the Lakeland Revival was starting, I thought about writing a post on the general issue of sensationalism, along with “mountaintop experiences” like Christian camps or conferences or events. I didn’t so much want to evaluate Lakeland, as to talk about the proper place of “unusual/sensational” things in the life of the church. I wrote a couple drafts, but never finished one.
Carson did a fantastic job. He didn’t talk about everything there is to say–for instance, he didn’t directly compare the unusual/uncommon work of the Spirit with the regular work of the Spirit in the local church–but I absolutely love what he did say.
It reminds me of a Sam Storms quote that I heard about second-hand, recently. Something like: Biblical balance means pursuing everything the Bible teaches with exactly as much emphasis and enthusiasm as the Bible teaches us to have.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thess. 5:16-22
People typically connect “Do not quench the Spirit” with the next verse, “Do not despise prophecies.” But I wonder if it’s also connected with the preceding verse, “Give thanks in all circumstances”. In other words, is grumbling & complaining–the opposite of thankfulness–a way of quenching the Spirit?
There seems to be a pretty consistent connection between thankfulness and the Spirit.
Thanksgiving is part of being filled with the Spirit:
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Eph. 5:18-21
Thanksgiving is part of walking in Christ:
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Col. 2:6-7
Thanksgiving is part of the word of Christ dwelling richly in us:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Col. 3:16-17
Speaking in tongues can be giving thanks with your spirit:
“Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsidersay “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?” 1 Cor. 14:16
Avoiding grumbling and complaining is part of working out our salvation with fear and trembling, and part of remaining blameless and innocent:
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning,that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” Phil. 2:12-15
So, it seems that being filled with the Spirit produces thanksgiving, and grumbling quenches the Spirit.
“Yet another issue is a deeply ingrained love of sensationalism and triumphalism, and little knowledge of taking up one’s cross daily. I do not mean to suggest that any gift of tongues, say, or any “prophecy” as defined here, or any miraculous healing, should be ruled out because it might be thought “sensational.” To denigrate the “sensational” in so sweeping a way, a fairly common ploy among noncharismatics, would surely be to indict Jesus and Paul. Rather, the problem lies in love for sensationalism, in the unbiblical and unhealthy focus upon it. [...] It magnifies the importance of what is, biblically speaking, relatively incidental, while ignoring the weightier matters: righteousness, holiness, justice, love, truth, mercy. It is constantly in danger of sacrificing integrity as the rush towards the sensational pelts on: stories of healings are blown out of proportion, so that the genuine instances are lost in exaggeration and distortion; evangelism loses out to manipulated outbursts of emotion [...]; the straightforward and impassioned message of the cross, proclaimed by a Whitefield, is displaced by endless promises to solve personal problems; and only the Christians whose problems have evaporated and who enjoys perfect health has entered into the fullness of the riches Jesus promises. In the more extreme cases, the triumphalism is carried so far as to promise wealth as well: give your “seed money” to God (i.e., our organization), and watch God multiply it; you are the child of a king–do you not think your heavenly Father wants you to live in royal splendor? Believers who have meditated long on Matthew 10 or John 15:18-16:4, let alone believers in China, will not be impressed by this argument. [emphasis added]“ | {
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"Stayed here with group tour. staff friendly and helpful. Breakfast was basic but adequate. rooms were clean and comfortable. The view from our room was great. bathroom was modern however if you are up early it takes a while for the hot water to come."
"My sister and I stayed at Ceylin Amasra in October 2014 and really enjoyed our stay. Mehmet, the owner, and all of his family, were very accommodating--very welcoming and helpful and friendly. We were updated to a suite which was a real treat. We really liked the location of the hotel and the vie
w of the harbor. Amasra doesn't get too many foreign tourists but we felt it was completely worth the trip up to the Black Sea and that the Ceylin was the best choice.
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"The Ceylin Hotel is more like a B&B than a hotel and the the friendly owner Mehmet is the first to identify his establishment as such. The Ceylin is one of the cleanest and and most modern B&B's we have stayed at in Turkey. Mehmet greeted us upon our arrival and offered to upgrade our room without
any prompting. He also provided us with recommendations for restaurants and took care of making reservations for us.
This is a family run business and we were treated as an extension of that family. While the Ceylin is located outside of the center of Amasra it is a short drive or cab ride to get to where you will find a good selection of restaurants and shops.
If you are looking to spend time in the Black Sea region and are looking for a clean, economical, friendly place to stay don't hesitate in booking this hotel.
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Encrypted Alphanumeric Keywords: Your organization’s safe deposit box
How many websites have asked you for your social security number this year? How about forms you have filled out and sent through the mail? Or scam emails?
We all know how important it is that social security numbers stay confidential, yet we must use these numbers so often it is hard to keep track of who has requested them, and for what purpose.
We put our faith in those we do business with every day, and trust they keep our social security numbers and other personally identifiable information (PII) confidential. We hope the organizations handling documents containing this information are doing everything they can to enforce a policy of least privilege – meaning that only those workers who need to see a social security number should have access to it.
Is your organization doing everything that it can to protect customer information? While complying with standards like HIPAA is a great start, it is by no means a signal that customer data is completely safe from the bad guys, and that the good guys can discontinue their efforts to strengthen defenses.
Defense-in-depth
A good security policy is multi-layered (think of an onion). If one layer fails, there are others in place. This is a concept that security professionals refer to as “defense-in-depth.”
One asset that is high on the list of attackers’ objectives is your database. A tactic they employ often is to steal or copy the target’s database, and then “dump” the information on a website that allows for pasting information anonymously.
If someone were to steal your database tomorrow, how confident are you that your customers would be comfortable with the way you store their information? Are you storing passwords using a strong cryptographic hash algorithm?
What about PII? Have you encrypted keywords like social security numbers in the database? You definitely don’t want to wake up one morning and find your customers’ social security numbers on pastebin.com.
Using encrypted alphanumeric keywords
Beyond the threat of someone stealing your database, there is also the concern of who is able to access this information in their day-to-day work. Do your support specialists need to see customer social security numbers? How about your HR generalists and recruiters?
If certain employees will not need access to this data, why make it available to them? Personally identifiable information should remain encrypted until accessed by a party with rights to see it.
At Hyland, we offer the ability for you to encrypt alphanumeric keywords. This robust security measure can provide you, your patients and customers with peace of mind. When you use encrypted alphanumeric keywords utilizing the AES-256 algorithm, they remain encrypted in the database and are not decrypted until a user with appropriate rights and privileges accesses them.
What if your users need access to documents that have been indexed with encrypted keywords, but you don’t want the encrypted keywords to be visible to them? No problem!
Using the security masking feature, the encrypted keyword values will be masked for all users that do not have rights to view restricted security keywords.
The financial consequences to exposure of PII can be devastating. By ensuring that private information is encrypted within your database, in case it becomes the target of cyber-criminals, everyone sleeps better at night. Especially your customers.
Kate Barney is Hyland's marketing portfolio manager for the healthcare industry. Josh Gatka has worked in Hyland’s Quality Assurance department for four years. In 2016, he assumed the role of Hyland’s Security Evangelist. His mission is to train and educate industry professionals on how to protect themselves and their organization from today’s advanced cyberthreats. | {
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Jenny Badeau Fuck Stick Antics
Jenny is saying us about getting caught draining then humping the manager. All this messy converse turns her and its not lengthy before she has her melons out to gargle and grease up. Then she gets out a fuck stick and fucks her appetizing vag | {
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Kids
Halloween
Boo! What are you going to be for Halloween? Sometimes, it can be fun to dress up as a group. Maybe your brothers, sisters, friends - or even parents - will want to join in the fun. Here are some costume ideas for groups of two or more.
sun and moon
winter, spring, summer, and fall
salt and pepper shakers
a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste
cop and robber
doctor and patient
veterinarian and animal (dog, cat, or bunny)
fireman and fire dog (dalmatian)
fisherman and fish
squirrel and nut
teacher and student
pilgrim and Indian (or turkey!)
prince and princess (or king and queen)
cowboy and horse (or cowboy and cowgirl)
dog and bone (Arf! Arf!)
vampire and bat
burger and fries
peanut butter and jelly
Santa and elf (or Mrs. Claus)
macaroni and cheese
three blind mice
three little bears
three little pigs
Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail (from Peter Rabbit)
Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Lion, and Toto (from the Wizard of Oz)
Sonny and Cher (ask your parents!)
And no matter what you dress up as, please be safe while you're haunting the neighborhood! | {
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1/25/09
Every year after the All-Star starters are announced people start talking 'he got snubbed'. Well, I think it is pretty obvious where the injustices lie in the All-Star starting lineup so I won't go into that because you all have read 100 articles on the subject. That number will double once the entire roster comes out. With all of this talk, I started thinking of a solution to this problem.
Jeff Van Gundy said today on ABC that the All-Star game is too important to these players to leave the starters solely in the hands of the fans. While some of us intelligent fans may take offense to that, we have to stop and realize that our level of NBA intellect does not accurately represent the average fan iq. As we know, the masses are guided by noteriety. Basically, what is being said in the mainstream media about a particular player will influence their vote. To a much more superficial extent, reputation is one of the biggest guiding factors in voters' minds (*cough* AI *cough*). Yes, I understand the All-Star Game is for the fans so the fans should have a say in who they watch. It is good marketing without a doubt.
We have all heard about the expansion of the All-Star roster to 17. I can support that, but it seems a little contradictory to only allow 15 on a standard NBA roster, but all of a sudden up that number to 17. I do see room for the argument to work though.
My proposal is a bit different than the 'Roster-Expansion Argument'. My proposal is to release the names of the coaches and media members who vote for the rest of the All-Star team. The coaches should have a vote independent of anyone else, but the vote from the media should be influenced by public opinion. In other words, it could be similar to the electoral college for the presidential election. Each media member with a vote is assigned a region of voters, similar to how congressional districts are drawn up. The votes for All-Stars come in, and they gather that information to help guide their votes. Of course, the members of the media could just completely ignore what the general vote is, and vote his or her own way regardless due to the lack of incentive to be faithful on the part of the media member (it's not like they have to run for re-election). My answer to that could be the vote for the All-Stars could be split. 50% for the member of the media (who has been guided by the public vote), and 50% the fans vote. So here is how my theory would work.
We can expect that there will be few differences in the votes. For example, Lebron, Wade, Kobe, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, and Chris Paul will pretty much be unianimous, barring something drastic, every year. So since Lebron, Wade, Dwight Howard, and KG show up in everyone's East ballot, they are obviously starters. However, AI and Nelson are split. One writer has taken Nelson and one region has taken Nelson. When a tie comes about like this, the fans should have the final say in numbers of votes as is the case of AI and Nelson. If Nelson got more votes, Nelson gets the start, and AI automatically goes to the bench. However, take the case of CP3 above. Everyone has voted CP3 except for Region X. This means that CP3 is automatically a starter even though Region X and Y have split because both writers have picked CP3. If a player gets more writer votes, the player is in, and the general election is meaningless. If more regions pick a certain player and have a higher percentage of vote for that player than writers do, the region wins. For example, lets say combined, all the regions had a 55% vote for Deron Williams, but 70% of writers voted in CP3. CP3 wins. When it comes down to it, a tie will be determined by the popular vote of the fan. In any case, a player that is split, will automatically go to the bench. Essentially, the writer gets the input of the fan, and the fans vote themselves. The writers have act as independent bodies when making a decision with the fans influencing the writers through their feedback.
I think this system gets the best of both worlds. Fans are able to decide split votes as well as influence the decision of the writer, and writers are able to cover up the mistake of fans in the event the fans really got it wrong. It is a sort of checks and balances system.
I have not thought through this system the entire way through so there may be some flaws in my reasoning. Please point them out, and I can make some changes to the theory. Let me know what you all think. Thoughts and opinions are strongly encouraged.
1/24/09
The Pistons have struggled as of late. They have only won 3 out of their last 10. They have gone from one of the elite in the NBA to a team not guaranteed a playoff spot. They have been replaced as one of the Top 3 teams in the East by the Orlando Magic. When I heard the other day that coach Michael Curry was toying with the idea of Allen Iverson coming off the bench, I was shocked. Curry ended up not making that decision, but instead, allowing Rip Hamilton to come off the bench. With all of the uncertainty in Detroit after the Billups trade, I stand here wondering what happened to the Detroit Pistons?
We are looking at the Nuggets right now battling for 3rd place with the Hornets in the Western Conference even without Carmelo Anthony. We look at the Pistons who are fighting with Atlanta for the 4th spot and hear Miami's footsteps right behind them. Could it be that trading Chauncey Billups was functionally throwing away their season. We have seen how Denver has been stabilized by the force that is Chauncey Billups. There is no question that Billups played the same role for the Pistons. The Pistons have handed the keys to Rodney Stuckey, but asking the young players to fill the shoes of Chauncey Billups is asking a bit too much. So now the Pistons are left with two shooting guards who deserve to start. What does Michael Curry do? Does he let AI stay at the 1 and Hamilton at the 2? When does Stuckey get his minutes? If Stuckey is to get better, he has to be gaining experience. Surely that experience can't come if Stuckey is not getting minutes. As you can see, Joe Dumars has put coach Michael Curry in a bad position.
After watching Hamilton come off the bench the other night against Dallas, it seemed to be ok for Hamilton as he finished with a team high, 17 points. AI seemed to be the inefficient one in the game against Dallas. AI only finished with 11 points on 3/9 shooting. The Pistons lost that game, and the Pistons are still struggling to find answers. As I see it, they have 3 problems. A lack of size in the front, inconsistency, and no real rhythmn to any of their games. They also have no real sense of identity. Are they a fast paced team with AI? Are they a half-court team that slowly pounds it inside? Are they a team that needs to just give it to AI and watch? It seems like they are all of those at times. Rasheed Wallace is their only real post threat, but as in past seasons, Wallace has not gone inside consistently, and has hung around the perimeter for much of the time.
I was talking to a friend the other day, and he was telling me that the reason the 76ers went to the Finals in 2001 was due to the lack of talent on the 6ers. I thought this was a peculiar comment coming from a Philly native and 76ers fan, but he brought up the fact that AI was not surrounded by any talent, and it was up to him to lead. He was also in his prime at the time. It is no secret that AI is declining at this point in his career and is looking for help. Is Detroit a good fit for him? No. It is nothing like the 76ers team he took to the Finals in 2001. AI needs the ball constantly, and having to share the ball with Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton, and Rasheed Wallace makes it tough for AI to do what AI does, score.
Detroit has a severe deficiency in the middle. They have Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace at the 4 and 5 spots. Both of those players are essentially forwards. They have Kwame Brown coming off the bench, but few would call Kwame a credible center. Since the Pistons go small, they need to run a fast paced game, and AI can help them do that, but they don't. They constantly get lost in posessions. They hope that one of their playmakers can just throw a shot up. I seldom see plays being run by Pistons. They need a lot more guidance on the offensive and defensive ends. The Pistons have the talent to win games and make the playoffs, but I don't think anyone is thinking Finals, much less past the first round, at best.
A bystander can't help but wonder if Joe Dumars has just conceded the season in hopes of freeing up cap room with AI and Rasheed Wallace's expiring contracts. The Pistons might be one of those teams that are clearing out cap room in hopes of getting a big free agent in 2010. Don't kid yourselves Detroit, Lebron, Wade, or Bosh will not be there in 2010. If I didn't know any better, an early ousting in this years' playoffs probably means the dreaded r-word...rebuilding.
1/20/09
For the first time since last June, when the site first started, I'm posting links to some interesting sports stories. More articles to come in the next few days about the Association.
I'm sure a lot of you have heard this, but this is the story of how DWade's divorce is hitting a low point. A lot of people have criticized the NBA for the culture of the players. We have heard of Michael Jordan's divorce, Shaq's divorce, and now Dwyane Wade's divorce. Three of the most high profile athletes in the world have had very high profile divorces, and they all happen to be basketball players? I hope there is no correlation here. Take what you may from this. I'm not sure of what to make of it. I hope it all gets sorted out, and is not that big of a distraction for Wade's play on the court.
Awesome story about Danny Granger's childhood with an emphasis on Danny Granger's dad, Danny Granger Sr. I'll let you all read the details for yourself.
Most valuable sports franchises in the world by Forbes. Unfortunately, no NBA teams, but I suspect that the Knicks would have been on the bubble for the top 10.
Obama has impacted all of our lives. We have all seen how the reaction to him taking office has been in the NBA. A few NBA players paid top dollar to get tickets to the inauguration. Apparently some people paid around $50,000 a ticket for a seat. Here is a link to show how important this was to the NBA. This is just one example of NBA players and teams reacting to the Obama presidency.
DishingDimes was just featured in this article from a great blog that focuses on college basketball during the college season, but the NBA right when the playoffs race starts getting heated up. Check the site out.
1/19/09
Wake Forest is #1 and it has inspired me to write about the top point guard prospects in the country because that race seems to be the most interesting, and at the forefront of the NBA draft discussion. We will leave Ricky Rubio and Brandon Jennings out of the discussion because they are abroad and I am ignorant of the intricacies of their game and have had limited exposure to watch them play. If you think that my analysis is bias towards Wake Forest because of my affiliation with Wake, I can assure you that I am not. I have been a big skeptic of Wake Forest sports from my entire time I have attended Wake. I have tried to formulate my opinion from a purely objective standpoint. I am just one of many who has written on the subject. Take it for what it is worth.
#1 Jeff Teague: He was a very under the radar player until he helped lead the Deacons to a win over North Carolina. Everyone I have talked to until the last two days, even after the North Carolina win, told me they thought Teague needed 1 more year at Wake. The last two days have shown us how fast Teague has risen on draft boards. He is a mid lottery pick at this point, and if he has a good tournament, I think he can be a top 5 pick easily. Teague also has the luxury of being on a team with 2 other NBA-ready players and a couple other future potential NBA and professional players. Teague has received help from the SF Al-Farouq Aminu as well as the PF James Johnson. Both players will most likely enter the NBA draft this year. I think Teague's help has elevated his play. Wake also has incredible size for a college team with 6 players standing north of 6'9, and it has helped Teague's penetration in the lane and options offensively.
Teague has an incredible ability to find weaknesses in the defense and attack them. When Teague goes to the hoop he goes straight to the chest of the defender. Teague also has an outside jumpshot. When the defender sags off him to prevent Teague from driving into the lane, Teague can pull up and hit a shot, and he hits 3 pointers 52.3% of the time. It makes life incredibly difficult for any opposing defender. Teague is averaging 21.4 ppg, 4.1 assts, 4 rebs, and 2.1 stls this season. Those numbers will catch the eye of any NBA scout. Teague is not a bad on the ball defender. He has active hands and knows how to disrupt shots. Teague also has a negative side. NBA scouts have said that his decision making is questionable, and they don't think he is a pure point guard. I agree with both of those observations. As a fan, I can't complain about Teague's decision making because he makes shots. Outside of that, I can see how that is of concern for NBA scouts. Teague will have a much more difficult time driving to the basket in the NBA. The defenders are faster and stronger than those in college. Teague can overcome those shortcomings with his superior athleticism. When looking at Teague's numbers it isn't difficult to tell that he is a shoot-first point guard who uses passing as a secondary weapon. If Teague improves his passing and decision making in order to increase his assists and lessen the 3.7 TOs a game he has, he can climb to the top 5 in the NBA draft.
#2 Stephen Curry: America has fallen in love with Curry. It may be his boyish looks that make him look like he could have gone to your high school or he could be one of your friends, but as a basketball player, we have to respect what he has done for Davidson. Major conference coaches were also fooled by his looks, but he is proving a lot of doubters wrong. Like Teague, Curry has questions about his decision making, and Curry has admitted to that. Stephen Curry is without a doubt the best player on his team. He is averging 29.1ppg, 6.5 assists, and 3 stls this season. He doesn't have the help that Teague has, but I would still categorize Curry as a better passer than Teague. If teams are going to beat Davidson, they need to throw their best defender on him. Stephen Curry can shoot from virtually anywhere on the floor. Even if the genes came from his ex-NBAer father, Del Curry, there is no question that Curry is one of the best, if not the best, shooter in the country. I think that if Curry gets on the right team, he can be a Rip Hamilton type of player. If he can come off of screens and limit his game to a catch and shoot type of game, he can be successful. Curry has the skill to be a point guard in the NBA, but like I said, his decision making is questionable. Even if he does stay a PG in the league, he should still be a jump shooter, and limit his creativity. I say he should be a jump shooter because he is unconscious when he has a wide open shot. Even with a hand in his face, Curry has showed the world he can deliver a big shot, and make seemingly impossible shots.
I question his NBA ability because of his size. I understand that he is about 6'3, but he has a small frame. Being a ball handler in the NBA requires one to be strong to body up against defenders and protect the ball going to the basket. If we think of the best PG's in the league today, CP3, Deron Williams, Jameer Nelson, etc., they don't fit Curry's stature. Steve Nash may be an exception, but no one is comparing Curry to Nash. I say that Curry should be a secondary ball handler that comes off screens because of his size because that seems to be where most of his potential lies. Rip Hamilton is not known for being one of the strongest players, but has been extremely successful feeding off of screens. The classic example is Reggie Miller. His career did not end up too poorly. Curry will for sure be drafted in the lottery if he comes out this year based on potential and reputation, if he finds an identity, he will be able to use his skills to really help an NBA team. He just needs to find the right combination of all of that.
#3 Jrue Holiday: One of the most sought after recruits in the country and National High School Player of the year prior to coming into college, Holiday has not lived up to expectation. Despite his lack of performance this season, he is still projected as one of the top 5 PGs in this years draft, and still projected to be a better NBA prospect than fellow Bruin, Darren Collison. Holiday has only averaged 9.6 ppg and 2.9 assists, but all of this comes in about 26.5 minutes a game. That is pretty good production from a second string point guard. From what I have seen from Holiday, he is a bit raw. Having said all that, Holiday has a very high basketball iq. He has good court vision, and seems to make very smart decisions. Holiday is the best passer out of this crew, and has the least amount of TOs at 1.9 a game, but he also plays the least out of the other 2 players on this list.
Holiday can undoubtedly help an NBA team, but I don't seem him helping a team out in the next year. Holiday needs about 2-3 years to fully develop as a basketball player. Holiday, like Curry, also has a small frame. He is 6'3 180, but can make up for the lack of size with his basketball iq. Any team that is in need of a guard could draft Holiday and mold him into whatever player they want him to be, as opposed to Teague and Curry who have a very apparent skill set. Holiday is a very good shooter, as evidenced by his 49.2% fg percentage. People should not be worried about Holiday's lack of production this season because we have to remember that Coach Howland is trying to balance their senior guard Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday's minutes. With players like Holiday, we have not seen enough from him to accurately asses his productivity and success in the NBA. A team will take a chance on him because of what he can bring to the table. It is just a matter of if he will bring it to the table...ever.
1/17/09
There was once a time in the NBA where critics of the Conference system lobbied to split the conferences up and make them into an NFL like division system. The tide has changed in the NBA. 3 out of the 4 best teams in the league are Eastern Conference teams. The worst team in the NBA comes from the West (OKC). For the purposes of this post, we should look at the top teams in the NBA, the Lakers, Celtics, Magic, and Cavs, and examine the diversity each of the 4 teams' diverse style. As a fan of the game, it is a joy to watch the differences in the makeup and style of the 4 teams. I'll tell you what I mean.
The Celtics: At the beginning of the season, everyone was talking about the reigning NBA champions losing single digit games. That is not going to happen, and since their loss the Lakers on Christmas, the Celtics went on a bit of a skid. They have regained their swagger, and look like they are back to their old selves. The Celtics are made up around The Big 3. They have their proven superstar in KG, another clutch superstar in Paul Pierce, and one of the best shooters/scorers in NBA history in Ray Allen. Put those 3 together, and some role players, and you have the reigning NBA champions. No other team in the league can boast 3 household names on one team. They proved that they could get the job done with that mix of players. Then we have Rajon Rondo. Rondo has been in a slump right now, but that is expected of his youth. The talent Rondo has at age 22 is amazing. He is a great complementary player to The Big 3.
When it comes down to it. The Celtics have built around 3 key players. It makes them tough to beat because you can lock down on KG all you want, but then you have the problem of Pierce and Allen to deal with, lock down on Pierce, and then you have the same dilemma. Lock down on Allen, and you know the story. It forces teams to be superior on defense. Defense needs to be the #1 priority when playing the Celtics. Throwing single coverage on any of the players means you need to have some really good perimeter defenders to guard Pierce and Allen, and then you need to have a heck of a versatile defender to defend KG. These are the types of matchup problems the Celtics pose every night for opposing teams. A lot of NBA teams try to center around a superstar. The Celtics did that too, times 3.
The Magic: Coming off a season sweep of the Lakers, the first time that has happened in 10 years, the Magic have proven they can play with the best. The Magic have their superstar in Dwight Howard, and they have their great scoring forwards in Turkoglu and Lewis. Another big boost for the Magic is Jameer Nelson. He is putting up career numbers with 16.9 ppg, 5.4 assts, and 1.26 stls. Nelson has proven that he can lead the team. When the Magic's shooters are off, Nelson takes it upon himself to go for 30+. Coach Stan Van Gundy doesn't even need to tell Nelson what they need from him that night because Nelson has that innate intuition of what he needs to bring to the table. Last night was a great example of Nelson and his leadership. He saw his teammates struggling from the floor. He goes 9/18 and drops 28 pts, 8 assts, and 6 rebs, and only 3 TO's against the Lakers. It was a performance from a player who is ready to win.
The Magic have the $100 million man in Rashard Lewis. He is a deadly shooter who is a rich man's Lamar Odom. He can do everything you want, and he brings you a pretty good level of consistency. Of course, Lewis has his off nights, but the Magic have scorers who will pick up the slack. Hedo Turkoglu is also a great player for the Magic. He has consistently contributed at a high level and is 4th on the team in scoring by only .1 of a margin at 16.8ppg behind Nelson. Hedo has also hit big shots for the Magic this season. With Nelson running the show in the backcourt, an up and coming rookie in Courtney Lee, the gunners, Turkoglu and Lewis, Dwight Howard's job is pretty easy. Wrong. Howard is undoubtedly the reason for the Magic's success. He leads the team in every category except for assists. He leads the league in rebs and blks. The one stat that he is not top 5 in the NBA in, is in FG%. That is something Howard needs to improve for the Magic to maintain this success. He only shot 8 for 18 last night against the Lakers, and finished with 25 pts. Some might not think that is of concern for the Magic. I mean, they won. You can't complain. The Magic have built themselves around Howard. They put 2 of the best shooters in the NBA next to him, and a point guard who has risen to his potential, but Howard needs to shoot north of 50% consistently for the Magic to be successful in the postseason. The Magic have proven they are one of the deadliest shooting teams in the league with their record setting 3point shooting night in Sacramento the other night. What is unique about the Magic is how much they have improved since last season with virtually the same team. You would think that with all the movement in the East, and the Magic staying the same, they would not be a top 3 team in the East anymore. Well, they have stayed the same. The Magic got better on the court while a lot of other teams got better on paper. Building around the best Center in the league is not a bad deal either. They are going to make some noise.
The Lakers: The Lakers are looking to make another Finals appearance. They have been hit with the injury bug lately, but the consistency of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol is about all the Lakers need to be a threat. Many argue that the Lakers are the deepest team in the Association. I tend to agree with that assessment. When healthy, they can bring Jordan Farmar off the bench behind Fisher. Farmar could start for 75% of teams in this league. Unfortunately for Farmar, he is playing for one of the 25% of teams that can start a point guard ahead of him. The Lakers are unique in the sense that they have players who can play multiple positions. Phil Jackson is known to have Kobe and Sasha Vujacic to play the 1. Pau can play the 4 or 5, Lamar can play pretty much any position except for the 5, Walton can play 2 or 3, and Ariza can play the 3 or 4. The Lakers also have the most size in the NBA. A front court that can play 2 7-footers and and a 6'10 SF is a pretty tough thing to go against. Put 6'7 Kobe in the backcourt, and the Lakers become a matchup nightmare. Phil Jackson has always been an advocate of size, and the current Lakers roster is proving his philosophy correct.
The Lakers have been centered around Kobe for so many years that people have been reluctant to accept the level of talent the Lakers have on their team. Kobe has come into a role where he has become more comfortable trusting his teammates and being a faciltator and a scorer, and most importantly, knowing when to be in both roles. The Lakers are a team that is struggling to find a level of consistency at this point. One can't argue they are being lackadaisical per say, but one could argue they struggle to effectively execute. The most glaring problem for the Lakers is their lack of defense. The Lakers allow 99.5 points per game, but their strong offense has been able to cover up for that every game, except for 8. The Lakers consistently allow their opponents into the century mark midway through the 4th. That will need to change come playoff time. Throwing their unrivaled combination of size, experience, and talent into the playoffs makes them a huge threat to any team, and unlike any other.
Cavaliers: Lebron James. Not much more needs to be said here. The help of Mo Williams has helped Lebron and the Cavs hold the best record in the NBA. Lebron does everything a superstar should do. He is a freak of an athlete, and is virtually unguardable. If he improves his jumpshot, Lebron is the best player in the league. The biggest highlight for Lebron is his impressive passing ability. We have all seen his bullet passes on SportsCenter, and if he continues his high level of play, I would not be surprised to see them in the Finals.
What makes the Cavs unique is that outside of Lebron, every player is a role player. Obviously Mo Williams is the #2 option, but he feeds off Lebron. Williams has to wait to pick his spots, and go for it. Wally Sczerbiak is the same way. He is a shooter that feeds off of double teams from Lebron. The Cavs also play surprisingly good defense for their lack of size. They only allow 89ppg, the best in the NBA. They average 11 more points than their opponents. You can't argue with that stat. It proves their defensive superiority. Their defense comes from the perimeter. They have shot blockers in Ben Wallace, Varejao, and Ilgauskas (when healthy). Mo Williams is a great on the ball defender, and of course, James' unparalled athleticism makes it hard for any offensive player to get what he wants. I can't even find a comparison to the makeup of the Cavs in the last 25 years. There is almost no contemporary example of a team that has had the success the Cavs have enjoyed without another star on the team. There is an argument for Mo Williams to be that star, but we know that he is playing at this level because of Lebron. Ask the Bucks if they recognize this Mo Williams. This is all Lebron James. He is the future of this league, and maybe the only player we may ever seen that has James' physical build that mixes athleticism and overall basketball skill together to produce what Lebron has produced in his very young career.
All 4 of these teams have proven they are fallible. The Celtics went for a stretch of losing 6 out of 8, the Magic have losses to Memphis and Toronto, the Lakers have back-to-back losses twice this season, and the Cavs have lost to the Bulls. As good as these teams are, they have their vulnerabilities. For the first time in a while, the East is more top heavy than the West. I think the Spurs can challenge the Lakers for a Finals spot, but the race in the East is what everyone will be watching.
1/13/09
I'm happy to bring to you Alex "Buckets" Matthews. He will go by the name Buckets on the site (origin of the nickname is still unknown). My first memory of Buckets was when I met him we started talking and naturally, basketball was one of our topics of conversation. Buckets told me, "I know more about the NBA than anyone I know." A bold statement. After getting to know him, he has not disappointed on his NBA knowledge. He is a hoops fan all the way around. From AAU to college to the NBA. He is a scholar.
When asking Buckets about his former high school career, he told me of a humbling moment. He describes the game as a 'playoff game' for his state championship. During the first half of the game, he shot an impressive 5/5 from downtown. Upon making his 5th 3pter of the half, he started doing a taunting sort of walk. This walk caused Buckets to injure his knee, and was basically completely unproductive for the 2nd half. When asked, Buckets described the experience as, "Embarassing."
Buckets hails from an island in South Jersey. Yes, an island, that apparently has a population of around 100 people. He lays claim to, "Every sports team in Philly, except for the Eagles. I'm a diehard Cowboys fan." Who knows? Nonetheless, Buckets is also a student at Wake Forest in his 2nd year here. He is a manager of the currently ranked #2 Wake Forest men's basketball team. When he isn't working for the basketball team or being a basketball nerd, he can be found playing basketball. As you can see, basketball is a huge part of the life of Mr. Buckets. I hope he can show that to the loyal readers of the site. I also hope that he will be able to share his unique insight and perspective on all things basketball. Welcome, Buckets.
1/10/09
Sorry I have not been living up to my New Years resolution. I hope to change that when I get back to campus on Sunday. I just got back from a Lakers game. It was an exciting game to watch, but very disturbing to think about after the fact. The lack of defense from the supposedly best team in the league was the main problem. The Pacers shot the lights out, and had it not been for a Kobe Bryant bailout with 3 secs left, it could have been a loss for the Lakers for the second straight time to the Pacers. The Lakers have had a huge problem holding 4th quarter leads. With injuries plaguing the Lakers, it is going to be very important for the team to pull it together in order to raise another banner at Staples Center. Nonetheless, it was good to be back to see my favorite team.
Anyway, as promised, I finally got around to posting the YouTube videos of me on ESPNU. These videos aired on ESPNU the week of 10/27/08. The main topic of the debates were, "Who will win the football game between Wake Forest and Duke?" For the record, Wake ended up winning the game. Had to add that in there. If you don't know, I am the Asian guy for Wake Forest. Enjoy.
I will be updating again soon. We will also be adding another writer to the site to help make updates more frequent. I appreciate everyone's support.
1/3/09
Happy New Year everyone. I apologize for not posting with more frequency. One of my New Years Resolutions is to post 3-4 times a week. Holiday season is hectic as we all know. I wrote an article a few weeks ago about waiving Marbury. I still stand by my original opinion of Marbury doing the right thing. This is the Knicks' problem. They created this. If any of you were in this position, most of us would act the same. It is pretty tough to be guaranteed $21 million dollars this year and forgive your boss by accepting $5 million dollars and walking away. Situations like these feed into why some people do not like professional sports. I can sympathize with that. If it were about the game, Marbury would want to be playing. We have to remind ourselves again and again that this is a business. Just like any other market, each party is trying to do the best for his or her respective party. With all this said, this brings us to our most recent Marbury drama.
Marbury has been rumored to be interested in signing with the Celtics. It would be good for every party only if the right things came into play. If Marbury were paid his entire salary by the Knicks for this year and the Celtics just had to dish out the minimum for Marbury, the Knicks would cut ties with the player that has been haunting their surprising season, the Celtics would have the backup pg to Rondo, and Marbury would be in a better situation overall. I would say that New York fans would hate him for going to Boston, but at this point, Marbury going anywhere would make Knicks fans happy. The risk for Boston would be how Marbury can come back and perform. There is no telling how Marbury will play after all the time off. Another consideration would be the reuniting of KG and Marbury. KG claims that he is ok with Marbury coming to Boston. We all know that the relationship between KG and Marbury from their days in Minny was questionable, and reuniting both of them could be potentially harmful to team chemistry. If there were tension between KG and Marbury, locker room relationships may be damaged. A KG/Marbury division in the locker room would be something the Celtics should stay far away from.
For this move to work, Marbury would have to be willing to take a back seat to the Big 3. Marbury should realize this is not Georgia Tech, not the mid 90's T-wolves, not the mid-90's KG, and most importantly, not his team. Marbury will have to put his ego away and take his spot behind a 22 year old Rajon Rondo. It will be a tough transition, but if the numbers work out right, there might be some potential in this move. If I'm Danny Ainge, I don't do this deal. There are to many question marks in this move, and he needs to tread these waters carefully. A Marbury signing could be a very bad PR move. Unless there was a lot to gain from the Celtics, they should keep the group they have. The potential for damage to the Celtics can come from more ways than just the salary cap. | {
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Let's talk together about the changing world. The doctor is in.
Some things about leaves
Walked to vote on a raw Novemberish day in Providence. When the weather is seasonable, I feel better, even though I know it has no long-term meaning. The leaves are starting to come down in earnest finally and pile up a little.
To pay attention to some things, we have to neglect other things. Let them just pile up on the sidewalk, break down as best they can, let the dogs shit in them, let their own tenants of fungus and bacteria emerge, unsanitary, let them spread a layer of humus slowly over the sidewalk, let people walk and wheel in the street, let dropped seeds take root. How quiet it will be. Sour smell of the smashed locust pods rotting, sparrows having to make different decisions.
Streets paved with gold, in the short term: let them learn again to maintain themselves, let the seedlings teach the concrete to crack. Think about who is with you now. When you step off the street itself to let an ambulance through, you are taking a walk in the forest. | {
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Behind the Vital New Jazz Program at Metro State University in Denver
It's been a busy month for the Department of Music at Metropolitan State University. Its accreditation was renewed by the National Association of Schools of Music, and it added a new Jazz and American Improvised Music Performance concentration (also accredited). We interviewed Peter Schimpf, associate professor and chair of the Department of Music, and MSU music lecturer Dave Devine about the new emphasis and the importance of keeping jazz fresh.
Gina Tron:MSU has a rich jazz history. How did this new accreditation come about?
Peter Schimpf: We've had some kind of jazz here at MSU Denver for years. Ron Miles is one of our longest-lasting faculty members. He's an internationally recognized jazz musician, so he's always created a presence for jazz. Other members have also joined over the years who are also excellent players. Students here have been playing jazz lessons, but they didn't contribute to any type of degree. There was so much going on that we thought the time was right to turn this into a degree and go through the process of accreditation. We're glad we did. It's already becoming one of our most popular majors.
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PS: We were sort of unofficially offering the degree last semester. This fall is the first official fully accredited semester that the degree is offered.
What sets this program apart?
Dave Devine: I think what's really unique about the program is that it's a reflection of current times. It's not a cookie-cutter program. One of the most important things is that MSU establish a program that is unique to all the other schools. We didn't want to be the school that is just the most affordable. If you come to this place, you are actually getting a unique experience; it's not just an academic exercise. Metro has such a unique faculty. Not only are they active players nationally, but all of them share such a passion for teaching. They all try to communicate the information in a unique manner specific to the program. It really sets the program apart instantly from the rest of the school.
What can students taking it expect?
PS: All genres of music are to be used in the program. The official title of the degree is Jazz and American Improvised Music. The idea is to really expand the notion of what jazz is beyond any kind of traditional notion, to think of jazz as improvisational, first and foremost, and as a kind of music that can explore other forms of American music and serve as a starting point for improvisation. In the 1940s and 1950s, when jazz superstars like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis were really making a name for themselves, they were playing songs that were popular in that day. As it kind of matured and evolved, traditionally speaking, a lot of jazz musicians still play those same tunes because those were the tunes that they learned from jazz artists. But the idea here is that jazz is an ever-evolving, still-living art form that can look to today's popular music or any kind of music as an opportunity to explore for improvisation. It's about bringing jazz into the now.
Explain how the program goes beyond just the walls of the school.
DD: We have a strong relationship with Dazzle and [the] Mercury [Cafe]. We have a lot of concerts at Dazzle. Students have the opportunity to play in a professional environment and have their friends and family come and see the music.
What do you hope this brings to the school and the future of music?
PS: I would say that the one thing about this program is we start from a very progressive perspective, and we hope to continue to grow in that, both in regard to types of music and in regard to types of instruments.
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ATHENS - Gilbert native Garin Justice has literally turned the football program around at Concord College.
Justice enters his fourth year as Concord University’s head football coach in 2014. He was named the 18th Mountain Lion head coach back in January of 2011.
Since being hired by Concord, Justice has led the rejuvenation of a football program that had went 0-11 as recently as 2008. Over his three year reign as head coach, Justice has compiled a record of 22-11 (.667), already the third highest winning percentage and eighth most wins by a head coach in CU history.
“We’re excited about the program and pleased with all the hard work everyone has put in to get to this point,” Justice said. “When I came to this program they were 1-21 before we showed up.”
Since then, Justice has helped lead the Mountain Lions to one conference championship and a subsequent NCAA Division II playoff appearance.
Justice was a 3-sport star at the old Gilbert High School. He played football, basketball and baseball. He became an All-State lineman in football, which led him to getting a scholarship offer to West Virginia University by former coach Don Nehlen.
Nehlen retired, which paved the way for Rich Rodriguez to take over the Mountaineer program.
Justice stayed the course where he became a solid contributor to some of WVU’s best teams in the early 2000’s.
Being a West Virginia native, Justice likes to give in-state players a chance if he thinks they can contribute.
“Our philosophy is that if a kid from West Virginia is good enough to play and contribute to our program – we’re going to look at him,” Justice stressed. “Alex Lee of Mingo Central is a good example.”
Lee signed with Concord last spring and is expected to do well at the next level.
“I was a local kid and hopefully I can give other kids an opportunity if they are good enough and work hard,” Justice added.
Justice became known in his home state as a 3-year starting offensive tackle for the Mountaineers. A hard-working lineman, he was captain of the 2005 Mountaineer squad that went 11-1, defeated Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and ended the season as the fifth best team in the country according to the final AP Poll.
That season, Justice earned All-Big East honors and was a Sporting News second team All-American. He was also the Big East Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Justice graduated from West Virginia University in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree.
“Garin’s pedigree in college football is fantastic,” Concord Director of Athletics Kevin Garrett said. “He played at West Virginia for Rich Rodriguez and Rick Trickett. He worked for Bobby Bowden, Jimbo Fisher and Trickett at Florida State. He had a chance to learn from some outstanding coaches and he’s done great work here.
“Garin is a man who grew up in southern West Virginia and is now coaching in southern West Virginia. That means a lot to everyone here,” said Garrett. “Garin Justice and Concord football have a bright future.”
At Concord, Justice’s teams have been known for their nationally-ranked defense as well as an offensive strategy that has provided the Mountain Lions the opportunity to win through an aerial attack or via a ground-based offense, depending upon personnel.
On Justice’s watch, 50 players have been All-West Virginia Athletic Conference or All-Mountain East Conference selections while two athletes earned WVIAC Defensive Players of the Year accolades in addition to 18 all-region selections and eight All-Americans honorees.
2013 was one of his finest seasons to date: Concord went 8-3 and narrowly lost out on winning the inaugural MEC title and earning a playoff bid. Concord tallied three-year highs under Justice on offense in points per game (26.6) and rushing yards per game (167.9). Just as impressive was Justice’s defense which posted three-year lows in points allowed per game (14.2), rushing yards allowed per game (108.4) and passing yards allowed per game (159.7).
Defensively, the Mountain Lions ended the season ranked third in the nation in points allowed, third in total defense, third in third down conversion defense, third in first downs allowed, fourth in passing yards allowed and 27th in turnovers forced.
Concord’s special teams unit also excelled in 2013 under Justice by ranking sixth in the country in blocked kicks, seventh in punt return defense and ninth in net punting.
Offensively, the Mountain Lions recorded the 24th best time of possession total in all of NCAA Division II.
Justice originally went to Concord in January of 2009 as the offensive line coach and strength & conditioning coordinator on former coach Mike Keller’s staff. Justice played a prominent role in Concord’s remarkable turnaround after its 0-11 season in 2008.
In 2009, Justice’s first year on the CU staff, the Mountain Lions went 6-5. In 2010, Concord was 8-3, winning eight games in a season for the first time in 19 years.
Prior to his arrival in Athens, Justice spent two seasons at Florida State University as an offensive graduate assistant, offensive videographer, and weight room graduate assistant. Justice helped develop four freshmen All-Americans and two All-Atlantic Coastal Conference performers. He completed his master’s degree from Florida State in sports administration in 2008.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at West Virginia University in 2006 where he worked with the offensive line and helped Dan Mozes win the Rimington Award as the nation’s best center.
Justice married the former Casie Coughlin at Concord University on July 7, 2012. The couple’s first child, Juliet Blake, was born on May 20, 2014.
His new baby girl has kept him busy this summer. He has been getting up at night and helping with feeding and changing diapers. But Justice knows all about responsibility and working hard, so it’s been a thrill having his new baby girl in his life.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be head coach at Concord,” Justice said “I have a great sense of pride to be able to coach at the university my family holds in such high regard. I’m thrilled and excited for the opportunity.”
(Info from the Concord College web-site was used in this article.)
(Kyle Lovern is the Sports Editor for the Williamson Daily News. He can be contacted at klovern@civitasmedia.comor at 304-235-4242, ext. 2277 or on Twitter @KyleLovern.)
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What's in store for the next generation?
As our pet and human populations grow, so will the demand for veterinarians in the fields of companion animal health, food and animal safety, disease control, and public health.
Jul 01, 2012
By dvm360.com staff
VETERINARY ECONOMICS
INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT
As our pet and human populations continue to grow, so will the demand for veterinarians in the fields of companion animal health, food and animal safety, disease control, and public health. Although there are fewer opportunities to join a mixed animal practice (the AVMA reports that only about 13 percent of U.S. veterinarians practice equine or mixed animal medicine today), there is also less competition for those jobs. According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics, the vast majority of the 2,500 veterinarians who graduate each year are competing for companion animal postings, which will only continue to grow. | {
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X-Universe #1
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If Gwen Stacy's tears had not dried up long ago, she would cry. Not for herself, but for the world around her. She can only sit and watch as the Mauraders decimate the ruins of Wakanda. That is, if Tony Stark doesn't do anything to stop it. | {
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Title
Authors
Date of this Version
7-2005
Comments
A DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Major: Educational Studies (Educational Leadership and Higher Education), Under the Supervision of Professor Marilyn L. Grady. Lincoln, Nebraska: July, 2005
Copyright (c) 2005 Natasha Hanako Chapman
Abstract
The purpose o f this study was to explore how biracial students described the role of the college campus environment on the development of their racial identity. The research questions were: 1) What is the biracial student’s self-assigned racial identity? 2) What life experiences have aided in the formation of the biracial individual’s racial identity? 3) How has the college experience contributed to the development o f the biracial individual’s racial identity? 4) What key factors in the campus environment were most salient to biracial college students in the development of their racial identity? 5) How do biracial college students perceive their racial identity options within the campus environment? A purposeful sample of 13 participants who were biracial or multiracial graduate students was chosen. Data collection occurred through semi-structured face-to-face and phone interviews. The data collected represented biracial experiences from 10 different undergraduate institutions. Three overarching themes emerged from the data: a) laying the foundation b) the college experience and c) visions for the future. The findings suggest that early childhood experiences laid the foundation for the racial identity of participants upon entering college. College courses, instructors and peers were salient factors in the students’ racial identity development on campus. Participants recommend that university administrators deconstruct traditional models of racial classification and develop programs and policy that are inclusive of all students. | {
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Sodexo: Improving quality of life is key to a happy and efficient workplace
May 26, 2015
Survey finds that China’s corporate leaders value quality of life in their organizations, and believe it will become even more important in the future. Almost all of China’s corporate leaders interviewed in a recent survey, a resounding 98%, believed that improving the quality of life in their organization makes their employees happier.
According to a new Sodexo-Harris Interactive survey of 50 Chinese business leaders who manage enterprises with more than 2,000 employees, 66% say that the next generation of China’s workforce will be the most important lever in raising the quality of life in the nation’s corporations. And it found that 62% believe public authorities, laws and regulations will also play an important role.
The survey is the first of its kind to examine the impact quality of life can have on corporate performance. 780 business leaders and decision-makers in the corporate, healthcare and educational sectors in Brazil, China, France, India, UK and USA were surveyed during November 2014 to January 2015.
"Improving Quality of Life is already recognized as an important element in China’s corporations, and I am encouraged to see that corporate leaders believe our younger employees will further understand the impact it has on the success of a business. I am confident that work culture will change with time, so that the cost of designing and implementing Quality of Life programs will be seen as an investment, rather than an obstacle,” says Christophe Solas, CEO of Sodexo Greater China.
"This survey is the first barometer among key decision makers. It is a unique study in that we did not solicit the point of view of end-users or consumers, as has been done previously, but rather those who take the decisions that influence quality of life in their organizations,” says Delphine Martelli-Banégas, Head of the Corporate Department at Harris Interactive.
The Quality of Life International Survey, China results
1. How does Quality of Life impact performance in China?
Employee satisfaction was the most important impact in Chinese business leaders’ minds (98%), which topped staff efficiency (76%), image and reputation with external stakeholders (66%) and their corporations’ business and economic performance (64%). In the current war for talent in China, how job seekers’ view a corporate brand and reputation has a real impact on whether or not they will pursue a career with them. As a young generation enters the jobs market, investing in employee satisfaction contributes to building a stable and motivated workforce.
2. What are China’s priorities for improving Quality of Life in corporate organizations?
At the heart of corporate success is thinking into the future, and to this end the overwhelming majority of China’s leaders (84%) said Quality of Life is important and so they are actively promoting it (82%). What did they think were important ways of making the workplace experience better? Health and nutrition were vital (70%), which is on trend with the younger generation’s expectations of good healthcare as part of their employment package. The physical environment of the office, factory, or workplace was in leaders’ thoughts, with most (80%) saying it was one of their initiatives for improvement. It is apparent from the survey that China will focus on these issues going forward, as almost all (90%) of respondents said they felt Quality of Life will become more important in the future.
3. What challenges do corporations in China face to improve Quality of Life?
At a time when China’s young talent is creating new benchmarks in the workplace, the majority of business leaders (66%) thought the rise of the younger generation would be the most powerful lever for improving Quality of Life in the future. Most corporate leaders (62%) are looking to public authorities, new laws and regulations to facilitate the changes their young workers – who are increasingly moving to new cities in search of a better career – will be demanding. As corporations accept that the future shape of jobs and the workplace are changing, some employers (56%) felt that the cost of implementing improvements would be a challenge. But most (78%) have a dedicated budget for programs to improve Quality of Life, proof that they know such an investment will bring value to their enterprise.
Highlights of Sodexo's China survey
* 98% said improving quality of life impacted employee satisfaction
* 90% said it would become more important in coming years
* 84% of Chinese leaders interviewed said quality of life is important to their organization
* 78% have a dedicated budget for programs to improve quality of life
* 70% of organizations with initiatives in place had chosen to focus on health & nutrition
* 66% said next generation will be an important lever to improve quality of life in the future
* 56% said cost was the main stumbling block to improving quality of life in their organization
Quality of Life initiatives can be classified according to 6 categories: | {
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Accounting
About Accounting
Accounting is one of the options available to students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The Winthrop Accounting program flourishes in a small class environment where professors are dedicated to classroom excellence in guiding students through the program to provide a foundation for careers in accounting. The undergraduate degree is the first phase of an integrated program leading to an MBA with an accounting emphasis for those students who desire to pursue an MBA and become a Certified Public Accountant. The undergraduate Accounting option also prepares students for many entry-level positions in the accounting area while the graduate program complies with South Carolina's 150-semester-hour requirement to sit for the CPA exam. Following completion of general education requirements, students take a challenging curriculum of core business courses, finishing with in-depth classes such as intermediate accounting, individual and corporate tax, auditing, and accounting information systems.
Accounting at Winthrop
Here, you'll develop a strong background in business and get hands-on experience in modern accounting strategies and best practices. The program integrates strong accounting courses with opportunities for real world experience providing a solid business framework.
Our accounting program is dynamic and focused. You'll get started right away, taking core courses like Computer Applications for Business and continuing to progress to more courses requiring the development and application of critical and analytical thinking skills. Guided by highly accomplished faculty who care about your success, you'll build the foundation you need to pursue an accounting-track MBA and/or take one of the professional exams for certification, such as Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.
Here's what you will find at Winthrop:
Small classes and one-on-one contact with faculty mentors provides a unique, personalized experience
Significant emphasis on internships with all sizes of employers located locally and around the world.
Opportunity to gain experience through membership in Beta Alpha Psi, the International Honor Society for Accounting, Finance and Information System Professionals.
Opportunity to network with alumni and other professionals to gain help with making career choices | {
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Benefits
On a cellular level , TA-65® has been shown to lengthen short telomeres and rejuvenate ageing immune systems. Studies have also shown increased bone density and improvements in other metabolic and cardiovascular biomarkers of ageing. Statistically significant improvements have been seen in glucose, insulin and cholesterol levels. Blood pressure and homocysteine were lowered while free testosterone was increased. Each individual is different and the results vary.
Anecdotally, our patients have reported:
Improved energy and feelings of vitality
Improved appearance as related to skin, hair, nails
Improved sexual performance
Improved memory and mental ability
Improved vision and has been clinically proven to reverse macular degeneration, and can also allow a change to weaker eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions
In clinical trials and in our patients’ test results we have seen a number of statistically significant changes including: | {
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The Seattle Seahawks fanbase are attempting to set the record but we, “The Chiefs Kingdom” believe Arrowhead Stadium is louder than any stadium in the world. We have submitted an application with Guiness World Book and will request the permission from the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL to be given a fair chance to put the record where it is truly deserved. Join in Chiefs Fans! GO CHIEFS!!!
Seattle’s bid for the record, already accepted by Guinness, will take place during the team’s home-opener on Sept. 15 against the San Francisco 49ers on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.” It is still unknown when Kansas City would shout for its own shot at the record.
One thing is certain, however: This duel of decibels will surely be heard.
As the Seahawks’ team website indicates, the crowd at CenturyLink Field has measured as high as 112 decibels – nearly as loud as a Boeing 747. However, the standing record mark is 131.76 decibels, recorded in 2011 during a soccer match in Turkey.
While Seattle’s CenturyLink Field holds 67,000 fans, Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium seats 79,451 people at capacity — over 12,000 more than Seattle.
It’s yet to be seen if Seattle’s 12th Man can match the additional 12,000 voices, but in any case, consider it one more reason to scream for football season. | {
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Among the reasons we mentioned was the velocity of credit downgrades for both European banks and governments.
How vicious has the downgrade cycle become?
So vicious, that the European Central Bank (ECB) is now mulling a new and improved plan (by “new and improved” we mean just the opposite) to become an ad hoc credit rating agency. You read that right! Instead of relying on outside credit rating agencies, the ECB will set the value of sovereign bonds as collateral it accepts in lending operations based upon the ECB’s own internal assessment, according to a Reuters report.
During the credit boom, rating agencies were everyone’s best friend. However, now that ratings can no longer be bought and paid for with gift cards from the Capital Grille, they’re universally despised.
Agencies like Moody’s (NYSE:MCO) and Standard & Poor’s (NYSE:MHP) have been strongly criticized by the ECB’s members. Doesn’t that sound familiar? The same thing happened less than a year ago when the U.S. Treasury objected to the negative outlook given to U.S. debt by Standard & Poor’s.
Spanish banks (NYSE:EWP) will be immediate beneficiaries of these coming changes by easing the collateral requirements for debt they need to put up.
No doubt, the ECB’s credit rating regime will make the previous establishment look saintly. It will also usher in an entirely new era of financial perversion.
The ETF Profit Strategy newsletter provides market insight and technical analysis that’s boiled down to actionable advice with key the support/resistance for the euro and other key asset classes. | {
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First published : 2015
Š 2015 Adriana del mar
A digital version of this book is available at :
ngsreborn.org
All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without prior permission of ngs.
na sa logo : Li Li
Print
Adriana del Mar
Epson 3880 : Red River 32lb
bind
Bps Repro Graphic Services Co.
945 Bryant St,
San Francisco, CA 94103
Designer
Adriana del Mar
a.toledovargas@gmail.com
largest nonprofit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its
interests included geography, archaeology, natural science, the promotion
of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture
and history.
ngs
once reached more than
700
million people a month
through all its media platforms, products, and events.
The Society’s commitment to integrity, and excellence positioned National
Geographic as a benchmark brand and a leader in publishing, photography,
cartography, television, research and education for a long time. This was
possible mainly because of a board of trustees —whose twenty-one members included distinguished educators, scientists, business executives,
government officials, and also conservationists— governed it. But all that
came to an end in 2 0 1 5 .
The origins of the National Geographic Society can be traced back to 1 8 8 8 ,
when thirty three explorers and scientists gathered at the Cosmos Club,
a private club then located on Lafayette Square in Washington, D . C . , on
January 1 3 , to organize a society for the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge. The Society believed in the power of science, and
exploration to change the world, and its purpose is to inspire, illuminate
and teach. After preparing a constitution and a plan of organization, the
National Geographic Society was officially incorporated two weeks
later on January 2 7. Nine months after the Society was founded, National
Geographic magazine started publication in October 1 8 8 8 as the official
journal of the National Geographic Society.
01°02’016’’N
NGS’ BOARD
AT T W I N
O A K S ES TAT E .
C. 1888
NGS
NGS’ MAGAZINE
VOL. 1 / NO. 1.
1888
BRAND GUIDELINES
Gardiner Greene Hubbard became the Society’s first
Following in the footsteps of the magazine, in an effort
president and his son-in-law, Alexander Graham Bell,
to extend the scope of its visual storytelling in the digital
succeeded him in
1 8 9 7.
In
1899,
A.G. Bell's son-in-law
era, the brand soon expanded to include the National
Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor was named the first full-time
Geographic Channel, nationalgeographic.com, and a
editor of National Geographic magazine and served the
National Geographic product line. These various media
organization for fifty-five years (until 1 9 5 4 ). Since then,
properties slowly initiated the decline of the Society,
members of the Grosvenor family have played important
gradually turning it into a mainstream brand and further
roles in the organization. Bell and Gilbert Grosvenor
disconnecting it from its core values of knowledge,
devised the successful marketing notion of Society
expansions and exploration.
membership and the first major use of photographs
to tell stories in their magazine.
On September 9, 2015 , the Society announced that it
would re-organize its media properties and publications
Over time, the magazine redefined itself as a committed
into a new company known as National Geographic
outlet for world-class photojournalism, documenting
Partners, which would be majority-owned by 21st Century
the wonders of the planet and tackling serious issues
Fox with a 73% stake. Eventually, this for-profit corpo-
around environmental and human rights. The magazine
ration, would own National Geographic as well as its
has a celebrated history as an innovative place for
affiliated television networks—most of which were
photography — from creating the first photographic
already owned in joint ventures with Fox. At the time of
survey of the night sky in the Northern Hemisphere
the deal’s announcement, James Murdoch, chief exec-
to making the first color photographs undersea, and
utive of 21 st Century Fox, said in remarks to National
it continued to push technological and creative bound-
Geographic that the pact created “an expanded
aries for a while before the publication came to an
canvas for the National Geographic brand to grow and
abrupt ending.
In addition to its leadership in photographic technology
and storytelling, over the course of its history the magazine’s images have documented numerous discoveries
and expeditions (many of them funded by the National
Geographic Society), from the first American ascent of
Everest to Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey’s work with
primates in Africa to James Cameron’s historic solo
descent to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 2012 .
It has been a window on the world for generations of
reach customers in new ways, and to reach new customers.” This “optimistic attitude” did not last long as,
on November 2, 2015 , roughly two weeks before the
closing of the expanded joint venture deal, National
Geographic and 21st Century Fox announced that 9
percent of National Geographic's
2,000
employees,
approximately 180 people, will be laid off, constituting
the biggest staff reduction in the Society's history,
yet, and marking the beginning of the end.
The National Geographic Society dissolved itself and
readers, and its photographic archives comprise 11.5
its media properties completely on November 2 0 ,
million images, including vintage glass-plate negatives
The National Geographic Society that had long stood
2016.
and rare Kodachrome transparencies.
for science, research, and investigation was —slowly
but surely— eradicated by Rupert Murdoch, a man that
proudly and loudly had long stood against all three.
For the all the brilliant men and women who brought National Geographic
to worldwide prominence, its termination was a tragic end. These are the
same men and women that, ten years later, in 2 0 2 6 , got together to resurrect the brand that was once the beacon of knowledge and exploration;
making these values the core of our new society.
National Geographic was once one of the leading research and exploration
organizations of its time, and had a huge impact on technological advancements in these areas. Today we are reborn from the ashes of our old company
to a more future-focused society and visionary leaders of our time with
knowledge as our North Star. The new National Geographic —from this point
on known and referred to by its acronym
ngs—
is conducting biological,
geographical, and anthropological explorations in cosntant search of
natural resources on land, water, and outer space to preserve mankind on
planet Earth and outer space.
02°01’029’’N
NGS
As an organization we strive to find new solutions to
human habitation & conservation, in close collaboration
with leading science researchers like the
NASA,
the
National Administration for Science Advancement and
many other research institutions around the globe.
By pushing the boundaries of technology, science, and
anthropology N G S is developing innovative solutions
and equipment that bring to life the most extreme science-fiction stories of our past.
A rather concerning condition of environmental decline
and human survival requires the best thinkers and the
most extreme explorers to join efforts in order to find
new solutions and better conditions for our existence.
Innovation and evolution are impossible without taking
risks, but most importantly, they become impossible
without the infinite pursuit of knowledge. Reasons why
now more than ever we believe in our dreams and with
a great vision of a better world for all of us —on the
planet and beyond— we will create a better future for
humankind together.
WE ARE THE DRE AMERS;
THE RESE ARCHERS,
THE THINKERS,
AND THE EXPLORERS.
NGS
OUR AUDIENCE
THE E X PLORE R
AMELIA : 17 : HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
Amelia is a senior student in high school. She is very curious about nature
and its mysteries. Her favorite class subject is science because she
dreams of becoming a computational biologist or an ecologist in the future.
Amelia is not your typical straight-a student because she only pays attention
in science class, even though she is very passionate about learning and
exploring the world and she is a natural born problem solver and explorer;
she can solve any mechanical problem in a heartbeat. She has visited and
volunteered at the Academy of Science and the Exploratorium at least
once a month since her dad started taking her when she was nine. Her favorite
books are Wind, Sand & Stars and The Little Prince, by Antoine de SaintExupéry. She is excited about what the future and its new technologies will
bring for humankind on earth and beyond.
02°03’038’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
THE E X PE RI MEN TER
JADA : 28 : BIOCHEMIST
Jada is a Biochemist currently leading her entire research team. Her motto
in life is “trial and error”, she believes she can try everything at least once
and go from there. Her dream and goal has always been to expand human
knowledge in her field. She enjoys her lab work but dreams of working in
the field where she can be in direct contact with nature and the environment.
Jada has worked at her current job for about six years now and she wants
to find something more exiting soon. She loves to hang out with her family
and expects to settle down pretty soon. She is a hardcore fan of sciencefiction and she is also a vegan because she loves animals. She strongly
believes that ecological sustainability should be less about politics and
more about finding equilibrium and being mindful of our own planet and its
biological resources.
02°03’039’’N
NGS
THE I NQUI SI TI V E
MARÍA : 30 : ANTHROPOLOGIST
María is an Advisory Research Anthropologist at Ricoh Innovations. She
has a background expertise in User Experience Design Research, Medical
Anthropology, and Science and Technology Studies. In the past she has
worked as a freelance Anthropologist and Ethnographer for several S T E M
companies and as a Research Analyst at
U C S F.
She graduated from
Stanford University, and U C Berkeley. She constantly seeks to improve the
quality of life and enhance wellbeing of others through her work. She is
a very committed individual and active member of different organizations
and community initiatives. Always investigating further into problems in
order to fix them or help in any way she can. Has recently found a new passion for learning new things outside her area of expertise in order to further
expand her knowledge.
02°03’040’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
THE OBSE RVE R
JOSÉ : 36 : UI/UX RESEARCHER
José is passionate about making everyday interactions with technology
more innovative, he has worked two decades in user research and has managed
numerous international research studies. He enjoys developing strategic
partnerships with UX research firms in other countries. José has a graduate
certificate in Human Centered Design and a background in engineering.
Most of his work consists of observing and recognizing thoughtless acts
withing his subject studies. When not at work, he can be found watching
his daughter climb high in their backyard cedar tree. His hobby is watching
the stars with his homemade telescope and daydreaming about what lies
further beyond the most remote galaxies and universes.
02°03’041’’N
NGS
THE E X PE RI E N CE D ES IG N ER
FRANK : 42 : ARCHITECT
Frank is a strong believer and practitioner of sustainable architecture, with
an
MIT
degree. He seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of
buildings by efficiency and moderation in the use of materials and energy.
He is always thinking of how to enhance the environment rather than suppress it. His idea of sustainability is to ensure that our actions today do not
inhibit the opportunities of future generations. His hobby is reading scientific
journals and he looks at every day as a chance to liven up his workspace
and environment.
02°03’042’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
THE DRE AME R
CASEY : 20 : COLLEGE STUDENT
Casey works at a local coffee shop in her neighborhood and is a college
student. She is unsure as to which path to follow because she is currently
a double major in two very different fields: biological anthropology and
mechanical engineering. She wishes she could be a student forever and just
keep expanding her knowledge and doing research. In the meantime, when
she is not studying, she is an avid amateur photographer, always looking
for her next adventure and escapade. Her platonic job since she has memory
was to become a National Geographic photographer. She was a girl scout
when she was little and she believes her hunger for exploration and knowledge was ignited by her adventures as a girl scout. She loves traveling, reading,
and daydreaming about the future and what it will bring with it.
It’s often hard to tell the differences, successes, and weak-points in anything
until it’s held up against another for comparison. In looking at our new
brand, we want to ensure that it is understood how our brand is evolving
and stacking up against the competition. By using a Brand Comparison
Chart, which uses two axis lines in a typical “four-square” diagram, we will
visually project how
NGS
stacks up against two polar measures — and
against the competition — in order to better see areas of opportunity, places
where voids could be filled, and expanses that could be improved.
02°04’046’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
i n n o vat i v e
• NASA
• F UTURE NGS
• V irgin G alac tic
• S p aceX
DIAGRAM 01 :
• Gre enp eace
• PAST NGS
individual
• 3 5 0.org
• Worldwatch Ins titute
• Wild Aid
c o l l a b o r at i v e
• W WF
• S miths onian Ins titution
c o n s e r vat i v e
Diagram 01 represent s NGS ’ innovation and
collaboration relationship with its past and with
its old and new competitors. A s the diagram
shows, our past was more user focused and little
bit conser vative but in order to take innovation
to the next level we need to harness the power of
team work and interdisciplinar y research, to
place ourselves outside the “limits” of innovation
and collaboration.
02°04’047’’N
NGS
adventurous
• F UTURE NGS
• S p aceX
• NASA
• V irgin G alac tic
DIAGRAM 02 :
• W WF
• Wild Aid
• PAST NGS
LOCAL
GLOBAL
• Gre enp eace
• 3 5 0.org
• Worldwatch Ins titute
• S miths onian Ins titution
INACTIVE
Diagram 02 represent s NGS ’ ad venturous and
and geographical qualities relationship with
its past and with its old and new competitors.
T his char t shows how far beyond the most
ou t r ageous ad v en tur es imanigables w e w ill
go versus how far away, pushing the limits
of the speed of light and the territories known
to mankind.
In order to visually represent our what and where we are headed as a new
organization we have created the N G S ’ Brand Grid, a tool to help describe
the brand at a glance and to help evoke the feeling of our core brand.
Take a look at our past brand one last time. Note what we have left behind
in order to reinvent ourselves for the future. We were National Geographic,
a brand once focused on the expanse of knowledge but that lost its soul
along the way. We are
NGS
a leading research organization and a future-
focused society with the exploration, expansion, and conservation of all
knowledge as our North Star.
02°05’053’’N
03
HOW WE LOOK
NEW LOO K
058
LO G O S P E C I F I C ATIONS
060
C OLORS
074
TY P O G RA P HY
076
B U SINESS SYSTEM
080
“MAN CANNOT DISCOVER NEW
OCE ANS UNLESS HE HAS THE
COURAGE TO LOSE SIGHT OF
THE SHORE.”
—ANDRÉ GIDE, FRENCH AUTHOR
NGS
OUR NE W LOOK
The ngs signature is an accurately designed combination of the Polaris Star
and the elegant proportions of our previous logo.
The anatomy of our logo is based upon the North Star or Polaris Star, a star
that has accurately guided explorers, astronomers and scientists across the
planet for centuries. The star lies nearly in a direct line with the axis of the
Earth's rotation “above” the North Pole — the north celestial pole — reason
why it stands almost motionless in the sky, and all the stars of the northern
sky appear to rotate around it. Therefore, it makes an excellent fixed point
from which to draw measurements for celestial navigation for explorers all
around the globe.
The enclosing space, the curves and the flares of the star are based on the
Golden Ratio, same proportions as our previous logo and symbolize a sudden
burst, and gradual expansion of knowledge, while paying homage to our past.
03°01’058’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
03°01’059’’N
NGS
NGS’ LOGO
LOGOMARK
LOGOTYPE
03°02’060’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
L OG O A N AT OM Y
ngs’ logomark can be used either with or without the logotype and may be
represented in one color only or Summit Black and white. Use the mark only
when simplification of the signature is needed for very large or really small
branding spaces.
NGS logotype is a sans serif custom-made face designed to project NGS’
modern, technological, and elegant new image. The logotype must always
appear centered-justified when placed underneath the mark. It may stand
by itself depending on the branding space. The logotype can only be represented in one color or Summit Black and white.
Our logo is a combination of out logomark and logotype, as indicated to the
right. The signature may be used in all promotional materials and can be
displayed in its original two-color combination (Zenith Gray & Knowledge
Turquoise) or Summit Black and white, depending on the need. Logo usage
guidelines are further explained on the following pages.
03°02’061’’N
NGS
L OG OM A R K A N AT OM Y
The new NGS mark is a combination of our past and our future. The mark is
constructed using the Golden Ratio Rectangle, whose side lengths are in
the Golden Ratio and in the proportions of our previous logomark. For it's
connection to infinite growth, dependable proportions and our history, its
the perfect bases on which to build our new identity mark.
Some of the brightest minds of all ages, from Pythagoras and Euclid in ancient
Greece, through the medieval Italian mathematician Leonardo of Pisa and
the Renaissance astronomer Johannes Kepler, to present-day scientific
figures such as Oxford physicist Roger Penrose, have spent endless hours
over this simple ratio and its elegant properties.
03°02’062’’N
A=8X
A=8X
GOLDEN R AT IO
A
A+B
=
B
B
2X
X
O
/ =X
½X
O
/ =1 6 X
X
B=5X
O/ = ½ X
O/ = X
2X
L OG O T Y P E A N AT OM Y
NGS’ logotype is a sans serif face designed to project our modern feel and
new technological, and elegant new image. It was custom tailored form the
typeface Forza Medium, redesigned to fit the brand aesthetics: the proportions and the elegant curves of the Golden Ratio.
X
NGS
X
X
7½X
7½X
½X
½X
X
X
X
X
X
3X
3X
X
X
2X
2X
X
03°02’066’’N
8X
8X
X
BRAND GUIDELINES
LOGO SPACING
Let our logo breathe. Always allow the value of X around the logo to ensure
that out mark stands out and is not cluttered. No elements should be within
the turquoise-bounding box pictured to the left. When dealing with negative
space in and outside the logo always remember it will be proportional to the
given value of X.
03°02’067’’N
NGS
LOGO SIZING
Please, refer to the following chart when sizing the NGS logo. Always keep
in mind how size variations are proportional to each other and how the star
flares are affected by size. Always use your best judgment when choosing
a size for any format.
BR AND COLORS
NGS’ color identity is a combination of colors that represent the exploration
and conservation of knowledge and nature.
The primary palette should be used as a first line solution when making
color decisions. The secondary palette should be used only to accentuate
or highlight in unison with the primary palette.
Geogrotesque is a semi modular with a subtle rounded finish typeface family.
DESIGNER : EDUARDO MANSO
All the characters are based on the same formal principle with its corre-
YEAR : 2008
sponding optical adjustments in order to adapt the system to an alphabet
PUBLISHER: EMT YPE FOUNDRY
for texts.
Although the type family has a geometric or “technological” construction,
the rounded finish provides it a warm appearance, making the typefaces
nicer and nearby.
It is available in Open Type format and includes ligatures, tabular figures,
fractions, numerators, denominators, superiors and inferiors with support
for Central and Eastern European languages.
The Sweet Sans typeface family is based on antique engraver’s lettering
DESIGNER : M A RK VA N BRONK HORS T
templates called “masterplates.” Professional stationers use a pantograph
YEAR : 2011
to manually transfer letters from these masterplates to a piece of copper
PUBLISHER: MVB FONTS
or steel that is then etched to serve as a plate or die. This demanding technique is rare today given that most engravers now use a photographic
process to make plates, where just about any font will do. But the lettering
styles engravers popularized during the first half of the twentieth century
—especially the engraver’s sans—are still quite familiar and appealing.
Though rich in history, Sweet Sans is made for contemporary use. It is a
handsome and functional tribute to the spirit of unsung craftsmanship.
BUSINESS SYSTEM
ngs’ business system naturally combines the brand's visual system.
Smartly combining our typefaces, colors, and graphic elements to evoke
a feeling of futuristic technology and elegance. The business system is
an example of how our visual system comes together cohesively.
04
W H AT W E E X P L OR E
N G S REBORN
084
BRAND EXTENSIONS BRIE F
086
EXTENSIONS
092
00°00’083’’
NGS REBORN
NGS is now pushing the boundaries of technological
innovation even further to carry out, support and catalyze
collaborative, interdisciplinary research in order to safe
keep humankind; we are training the next generation of
explorers, scientists, researchers, and anthropologists
to provide scientific and technical leadership on astrobiology, biomimicry, and other areas of investigations for
current and future explorations; We are exploring new
approaches using modern information technology to
conduct interdisciplinary and collaborative research
amongst widely-distributed investigators and support
learners of all ages by implementing formal, informal,
and higher education programming and public outreach.
NGS
OUR BR AND E X TENSIONS
In keeping with the soul of the brand. NGS is now pushing
and main organism of bright minds and professionals
that collaborate in taking care of Earth and humanity.
Our team includes professionals from multiple fields
who work together in search for a better tomorrow.
When the world changes we will be ready. Our Command
center will serve as the main organism of our organization guiding all of our endeavors and exploration towards
the future and making sure knowledge is our guiding star.
04°03’092’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
NG S E DUC AT ION S Y S T E M
◼◼◼
: EDUC ATION
A complete Geo-education involves both in-school and
out-of-school learning. Based on a balance between
the STEM and Humanities learning combines with a
local-global spectrum. Geo-education is a guided
experience in both the human and natural worlds for
young minds and professionals.
04°03’097’’N
NGS
04°03’098’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
04°03’099’’N
K NO W L E DGE D ATA B A SE
◼◼◼
: PRODUCT
Our main knowledge database is the organism that
holds and constantly updates any past or recent
discovery and knowledge for the humanity to use and
conserve forever. NGS’ database is an extensive
collection of any kind of knowledge ever known to
mankind. The database hold information in the areas
of engeneerinf, biology, chemistry, antrhopology,
history, art, physiscs, technology, etc., and it is an
open sourse of information available to anyone
eager to learn and contribute.
NGS
SIMUL AT E D E N V IR ONME N T S
◼◼◼
: PRODUCT
NGS’ simulated environments are a state of the art
research technology that superimposes a virtually generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus
providing a composite view. This seamless overlay of
virtual images on the real world has many possible
applications in a wide variety of fields, including education,
engeneering, and manufacturing, but at NGS it is
mainly used as an extraordinary resource for research
and exploration of different environmets that may
be hazardous or dangerous for human contact.
04°03’102’’N
NGS
04°03’104’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
04°03’105’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
NGS E XPEDITIONS
◼◼◼
: EXPERIENCE
NGS’ expeditions are a very important extension our
organization and activities. NGS is working on the
concept of a high-tech moving laboratory combining
ideas of land, space, and sea navigation. This concept
is envisioned as a sort of aquatic research, carrying
scientists on long treks through environments non-inherently friendly to human life.
Technology and discoveries developed in our expeditions allow us to further develop all technology on a
smaller scale, for every day use in our laboratories. It
also puts us one step further in allowing human habitation in environments that are typically impossible
long term habitats.
04°03’107’’N
GEO EXPEDITIONS
◼◼◼
: EXPERIENCE
Our Monthly expeditions to Earth’s most extreme
environments in search of new resources and endangered minerals. These series of land expeditions
are meant to safe keep our planet's environment and
for the discovery of better energy sources and
minerals for human survival.
GE O-WAT E R E X P E DI T IONS
◼◼◼
: EXPERIENCE
Our biannual underwater explorations objective is
to search for new resources and endangered species.
Our underwater expeditions are an intrinsic part of
out expedition program because they serve as the
practice and foundation upon which to base our
space expeditions.
GEO-SPACE E XPEDI T IONS
◼◼◼
: EXPERIENCE
Our outer space expeditions go in search of new
habitable environments for humankind and better
resources to sustain life.
NGS
DISCOVERY RIGHTS
◼◼◼
: SERVICE
NGS’ Discovery rights encompass discoveries on land,
space, and underwater and the management of area
and expanse discovered, as well as naming the naming
rights for any biological discovery on our planet and on
far away galaxies for future human habitation.
04°03’114’’N
NGS
04°03’116’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
04°03’0117’’N
L IF E VA U LT S
◼◼◼
: SERVICE
All of our vaults cryogenically preserve life organisms for mankind’s survival here on home planet or
intergalactically. Our fauna vaults preserve a wide
variety of genetic material and frozen embryos form
many different animal species —including human
embryos—. Our flora vaults preserve a range of plant
seeds that are duplicate samples of seeds held in
gene banks worldwide. The seed vault is an attempt
to insure against the loss of seeds in large-scale
regional or global crises and to provide for humanity’s survival in outer space.
NGS
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
◼◼◼
: PRODUCT
Artificial intelligence is transforming the world as we
know it. AI is an extremely powerful technology, powerful
enough to make a dramatic difference in human life. It
has the possibility of enhancing human endeavor by
complementing what people can do. ai’s impact is
especially dominant in areas of science and engineering for outer space and underwater expeditions.
Recognizing the objectives of NGS’s is quite logical
that we spend large amount of our resources in collaboration with scientists and research centers around
the world to come up with the best AI technology there
is to help us in our often dangerous explorations on
land, water and outer space.
04°03’120’’N
NGS
04°03’122’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
04°03’123’’N
BRAND GUIDELINES
BIOMIMICRY L ABS
◼◼◼
: ENVIRONMENT
Biomimicry is a scientific design discipline where patterns and strategies found in nature are emulated/mimicked to find sustainable and better solutions to human
challenges. This discipline encourages us to approach
nature with humility and dig deeper into her systems
and processes to extract design principles, apply and
innovate in a manner aligned to the planet and not
against it.
NGS’ engineers and researchers often use the natural
world as inspiration for design. Biologically inspired
designs include air- and sea-going vessels, navigation
tools such as sonar and radar, expedition imaging
devices, biological technologies, and water and pollution treatment processes.
The exploration, expansion, and conservation of
knowledge requires working together towards a
common goal. At NGS we do not underestimate the
power of collaboration and take it as serious as we
can. Getting to innovation —true innovation—
requires a long process of trial and error and a support community. Reason why at NGS we have solid
partnerships and collaborations with leading institutions such as the National Administration for
Scientific Advancement (NASA), MIT, Cal Tech,
Harvard, and the Smithsonian Institution, amongst
many others.
“ WE SHALL NOT CE ASE FROM
E X P L OR AT ION , A ND T HE E ND OF
ALL OUR EXPLORING WILL BE
T O A R R I V E W HE R E W E S TA R T E D
AND KNOW THE PL ACE FOR
T HE FIRS T T IME.” | {
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NFL Analyst: ‘Whisenhunt’s going to get another shot’
When the Arizona Cardinals fired Ken Whisenhunt on Monday, many pundits around the league believed he would get a second chance as an NFL head coach.
Less than a week since his firing, Whisenhunt has already completed interviews with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns. With the Browns close to hiring Oregon innovator and one of the hottest head coaching candidates on the market, Chip Kelly, many wonder if Whisenhunt will indeed wind up taking the reins in Buffalo.
CBS Sports NFL Analyst Steve Tasker told Arizona Sports 620’s Doug & Wolf Friday he hasn’t been privy to the talks between Whisenhunt and the Bills, but he wouldn’t be surprised if the former Cardinals head coach landed with the Bills.
“Don’t be surprised when Ken Whisenhunt gets another head coaching job and it may well be in Buffalo,” Tasker said. “I am sure that he’s on their short list and we’ll see how it comes out. I don’t have any special insight into how that interview process went with Whisenhunt.”
Tasker said he understands Cardinals fans might be unable to fathom how Whisenhunt could potentially get another head coach gig so quickly, but he believes with the right personnel the 50-year-old could be quite successful in a new environment. | {
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Comment on The Deer Hunter: F*** It
Michael (Robert De Niro) and the boys try to strike up a conversation with a soldier at the bar, the soldier doesn't want to talk just drink.
Movie Description
A group of working-class friends decides to enlist in the Army during the Vietnam War and finds it to be hellish chaos -- not the noble venture they imagined. Before they left, Steven married his pregnant girlfriend -- and Michael and Nick were in love with the same woman. But all three are different men upon their return.
Studios
Universal Pictures, EMI Films Ltd.
Starring:
Welcome to Klipd.com
Here at Klipd.com, we are a team of loyal movie enthusiasts who are devoted to sharing one of our favorite past times, viewing movie scenes, with you the viewers. Have you ever found yourself watching a movie and.. | {
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What’s the action I’m committing to? What am I going to do differently as the result of coming across work that should change my thinking and my behavior? If all I do is share, the implication, at best, is that I’m hoping that someone else is more willing to act on something than I am.
Maybe we need a little help.
I fantasize about a Do button at the bottom of every article and viral video. Maybe this button links to a condensed Ship It book by Seth Godin and generates an email (or Evernote, or Google doc, or it gets pulled into Slack) describing exactly what I am going to do with this new thinking, with who, by when. The button helps us shift from “hey, this is interesting” to “this is what we’re going to do.”
To get us started, anyone out there seen a Do button that I’ve missed? Or want to make one?
And, if you like this idea, please DON’T just forward this blog post along.
Share this post, and any like it, with a commitment: think back to that one best idea you came across last week and write down what you’re going to do about it. As in (feel free to copy/paste/edit):
Hey Marcus,
Sasha Dichter’s blog post today got me thinking about that article I shared with you last week. We really need to change the way we run our team meetings, and my proposal is ________, which I want us to try at our meeting next week. As a next step, I’m going to….
(Bonus: commit to figuring out what your Do button is going to look like so that the next time a big idea rocks your world, you’ll take the steps to implement that idea to change your world for the better.)
The bottom line is that we are letting ourselves off the hook, and, in so doing, we’re not doing right by the people whose thinking we so deeply respect. The truth is, these people aren’t interested in being a little bit famous; they’re interested in making something happen. The best way to honor them is through the actions you take.
A powerful post, Sasha . . . powerful because of its very truth. I’ve been wondering, if we as a society really think we can change the world and our own sphere of influence by simply clicking? By liking? Isn’t this limiting ourselves and denying our capacity for living creatively ? Information and causes and suggestions are so omnipresent these days it seems that inaction can be a result. For myself, I decided a few weeks ago, because I was feeling disempowered and ineffective — that I would take action based on observations/instructions posted by a few local friends who are well versed in local ecology/environmental work. Small actions. But at least something. | {
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Rated 5 / 5 stars2004-06-23 03:19:38
Rated 0 / 5 stars2004-06-19 01:11:17
BAD
Okay Legendary Frog will be highly offended, and hopfully Tom Flup would be offended, cause this is more like a huge spoof of his characters. I hope Tom, and Wade Flup, and the staff of newgrounds reads, and watches this. you're be in big trouble.
Rated 5 / 5 stars2004-06-16 23:48:44
Dude!!!
That was Not only Funny But Twizted LOL make More But this time make it whare NENE Had Biiiiiiiiiiiig Titties good work man and hope you reply to me review......Or I'll Haut you in your sleep mwwwahahahahahahahahahahaaaa >:D | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
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ND-BS003 Reactive Stationary Jammer
The ND-BS003 is designed for blocking remote controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIEDs) used by terrorist.
Having considered the variety of jamming targets and the wide range of uncertainties, the more advanced and effective jamming signal modulation method is adopted, which significantly increases the jamming efficiency in each band, for the purpose of providing security protection and ensuring the safety of VIPs.
By adopting the unique Smart Power® technology, the wideband frequency coverage range of the system can be from 20 to 2700MHz (up to 6GHz based on requirements) and its total response time is less than 200μs. Besides, automatic self-protection mechanism effectively supports stable operation and long service life by preventing the system from overheating and over-current. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
is the first ending song in Kill la Kill. It served You can help Kill la Kill Wiki by expanding it. The full version served as the ending theme for the final episode. 8 Jul This sound mod replaces the credit song to the Kill la Kill first ending "Gomen ne, Iiko ja Irarenai." by Miku Sawai (Full Version) Sounds really. Kill la Kill is a anime television series created and produced by Trigger. The series .. As Ryuko furiously attacks her, Nui recalls six months ago how she killed Isshin with the Rending Scissors Unable to fight at her full strength out of fear of losing control again, Ryuko is defeated by Nui, and Senketsu is torn to pieces.
Hiroyuki Sawano - KILL la KILL ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK - bevydigital.com Music. ending songs, but that didn't bother me since the whole soundtrack is simply. Looking for information on the anime Kill la Kill? Edit Ending Theme likely at least heard of them and the impact that they've had on anime as a whole. I never quite felt satisfied the with the ending. The 'evil' mom was Rules PM the mods» Full rules». Everything . ago (1 child). Kill la Kill. Kill la Kill Lyrics: *endy adlibs* / I been working hard but it seems its not enough / But I'm feeling fine just because I'm It's real in the field either kill or be killed.
Plot Summary: Ryuuko Matoi carries a large weapon shaped like half of a pair of scissors. She's looking for the woman with the other half, who killed her father. Read Kill La Kill Op from the story Anime & VG Lyrics by Satomi_z (Satou) with reads. videos, opsandeds, manga. Kill La Kill Op Sirius: Aoi Eir. 8 Jan I gotta find out who killed my dad. I hear the voice of you in my mind so. My blood is pumping. I'm ready to fight when you are. Let's let no. Animation Kill La Kill Poster. A young .. She is looking for the woman who holds the other half of her sword who killed her father. See full technical specs ». | {
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Added 2 lane road night time strip
Added new car group
Added 10 new scenarios
Fixed car balances
Fixed start text
Added function to turn on car lights at the start (this also keeps pressing the lights every time you restart so if you have no lights just retry again.) | {
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st ignatius college masterplan
a low budget master plan project we produced for a high profile boys school in nsw . . . which was quite a fun project to work on over a 4 week period and was shown to the entire st ignatius college as part of their 30 year plan end of year general assembly. | {
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Blog
14Apr
NEW PARTNERSHIP
At Spring Valley, our vision for the camp is that it will be considered a ministry in itself, not just a place where ministry occurs. It is with this vision that we are excited to announce a new partnership with Flickinger Learning Center. The learning center, currently located in downtown Muscatine, operates an after school program for elementary students. Due to the overwhelming response for this type of program, a second location is needed and Spring Valley is happy to provide that location. The initial phase of this program will begin on April 18, 2013. Staff from Flickinger and students from the Muscatine School District will meet daily after school in the Recreation Building for a healthy snack, homework assistance and a structured reading intervention program. With this partnership, plans will need to move forward on the addition of bathrooms to the Recreation Building. The current bathrooms are in need of upgrade and repair and located in a separate building. This does not allow for year round use of the bathrooms. Plans for construction on adding bathrooms to the Recreation Building are tentatively scheduled for August. We look forward to the opportunity we have to reach out to families in the Muscatine community through the partnership with Flickinger Learning Center. | {
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